ROAD RUNNING

With four of the six 2023 SPAR Grand Prix races completed , defending champion Tadu Nare is wellpositioned to collect her third title in a row . Even though she is currently in fourth place , 16 points adrift of Grand Prix leader Selam Gebre , Nare can take advantage of the rule that the final points table will count only the top four results of the season . While Gebre has run all four races so far and Nare has done only three , the two-time champion has scored a maximum 30 points each time . Another 30-pointer in either Tshwane or Johannesburg will give her an unassailable 120 points at the end of the season .

While 30 points is not automatically awarded for a win – 10 bonus points accrue only if the runner achieves the target time for the two inland races , in this case sub- 34:40 for the 10km distance – but Nare ’ s track record over the past three seasons suggests that achieving this in at least one of the two remaining races is likely . After four consecutive second-place finishes , Gebre looks likely to finish at least second at the end of the series , since only Nare can beat her .

The battle for the next two places is less certain . Glenrose Xaba has 96 points , six clear of Blandina Makatisi , but Makatisi beat Xaba in Mbombela and could chip away further at her lead . However that battle turns out , Xaba is likely to finish as the top South African runner , but the battle for fifth place between

Cacisile Sosibo ( 75 points ) and Kesa Molotsane ( 71 ) will likely determine who takes more prize money as second and third amongst the South Africans .

The most intense competition is taking place in the 50 – 59 age category , where Janene Carey is on levelpegging with Ronel Thomas . Both have won two races so far , while finishing runner-up in the other two , but with the two remaining races both being held at altitude , Thomas may have a slight advantage , as she lives in Tshwane . Meanwhile , Judy Bird continues to exert a total stranglehold on the 60 + category , with a perfect score of 40 points after four immaculate bonus points victories .

This is how the series standings look after the fourth race in Mbombela , with individual runners scoring points in their categories , and clubs scoring points depending on how many athletes qualified for points in these categories .

Tadu Nare

Selam Gebre

1 Selam Gebre Nedbank 106

Glenrose Xaba

Blandina Makatisi

1 Ronel Thomas Boxer 38

Images : Rogan Ward , Reg Caldecott

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