Centurion Celebration
For more info , visit www . sparwomensrace . co . za or www . spar . run 2023 SPAR Grand Prix Calendar
And the Winners Are …
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Nare Returns with Stylish SPAR Win
Defending series champion Tadu Nare delivered a spectacular performance with a record-breaking victory in the second leg of the 2023 SPAR Grand Prix in Gqeberha .
Tadu Nare returned to SPAR action with an emphatic win in Gqeberha
Last year ’ s SPAR Grand Prix Series winner , Ethiopia ’ s Tadu Nare , missed the first race of the 2023 series , in Cape Town , due to running the TCS London Marathon on the same day , Having finished eighth in London , she returned to action in South Africa in the second leg of the SPAR Series , in Gqeberha , and won comfortably in 31:35 , missing her personal best by just six seconds , but clocking the fastest SPAR Grand Prix time ever run in Gqeberha , as well as the tenth-fastest women ’ s time ever in South Africa on a record-eligible course , in a fast race that saw nine women dip under 34 minutes .
Though she had compatriot Selam Gebre for company for most of the race , Nare tore away on a long downhill stretch in the closing stages and coasted along the beachfront to secure a comfortable victory in 31:35 . “ I needed someone to help me push myself to run sub-31 , which was my plan , but I ’ m very happy with the outcome ,” Nare said afterwards . “ All in all , it was a wonderful race . It was a great route , and the weather was perfect . This is my favourite city to run in .”
The next four athletes over the line did set PBs : Gebre clocked 31:53 to take second place , followed by SA ’ s 10km National Champion Glenrose Xaba in 32:12 . Xaba had run 32:23 just two months earlier , also in Gqeberha , and said , “ I ’ m very happy with
Sunday 23 April – Green Point Common , Cape Town Saturday 27 May – Pollok Beach , Summerstrand , Gqeberha
Sunday 25 June – Kings Park Stadium , Durban
46 ISSUE 159 | www . modernathlete . co . za my result . The race went well . I came here with a positive mindset and was hoping to run a fast time . The weather conditions were good , and Tadu pushed the pace , so I ’ m grateful to her , because it allowed us to run fast times .” Fourth was Blandina Makatisi of Lesotho in 32:46 , and SA ’ s Cian Oldknow took fifth in 32:49 , shaving four seconds off the PB she set in Germany at the end of April .
Centurion Celebration
Further back in the field , Judy Bird won the grandmaster category by a huge margin in 40:20 , just nine seconds outside her SA Record . Second in this age category was former ultra-distance star Grace de Oliveira made history by becoming only the second woman ( after Sonja Laxton ) to complete 100 races in the annual SPAR Grand Prix . De Oliveira , a seventime Comrades Marathon gold medallist , admitted she hadn ’ t felt well , but she managed to hold on to finish third in the grandmasters ( 60-69 ) age group , completing the race in 48:55 .
“ It was an incredible moment to have the reception I received at the end of my 100th race . It gave me goosebumps ,” said De Oliveira . “ I wasn ’ t feeling great , and didn ’ t have the best run , so I wasn ’ t happy about my time , but I knew I had to do it today . Since my first race , I wanted to be a part of this brand , which puts women first . The SPAR 10km races have always been close to my heart , and they keep me young .”
For more info , visit www . sparwomensrace . co . za or www . spar . run 2023 SPAR Grand Prix Calendar
Saturday 15 July – Mbombela Stadium , Mbombela Saturday 5 August – SuperSport Park , Tshwane Sunday 1 October – Marks Park Sporting Club ,
Johannesburg
And the Winners Are …
These are the top results of the 2023 Gqeberha SPAR Grand Prix 10km on 27 May .
Senior Category
1 Tadu Nare ( Nedbank ) 31:35 2 Selam Gebre ( Nedbank ) 31:53 3 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) 32:12 4 Blandina Makatisi ( Maxed ) 32:46 5 Cian Oldknow ( Hollywood ) 32:49 6 Kesa Molotsane ( Murray & Roberts ) 33:06 7 Cacisile Sosibo ( Boxer ) 33:10 8 Tayla Kavanagh ( Hollywood ) 33:11 9 Lebo Phalula ( Boxer ) 33:32 10 Patience Murowe ( Nedbank ) 35:03
Junior Category
1 Zanthe Taljaard ( 32GI ) 39:15 2 Kara Fourie ( ST Albans ) 41:13 3 Mia-Cara Hart ( Cronje Oefengroep ) 43:56
40-49 Category
1 Refeloe Solomons ( Nedbank ) 39:33 2 Simone Botha ( Boxer ) 39:38 3 Cecilia Nel ( Nedbank ) 39:58
50-59 Category
1 Janene Carey ( Phantane ) 40:16 2 Ronel Thomas ( Boxer ) 40:16 3 Shani Silver ( Boxer ) 40:46
60-69 Category
1 Judy Bird ( Boxer ) 40:20 2 Annatjie Botes ( Nedbank ) 47:02 3 Grace de Oliveira ( Phantane ) 48:55
Images : Delarey Ferreira