Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 63, October 2014

Spar Series heading for GRAND FINALE race report The Durban and Pretoria legs of the ever-popular Spar Women’s 10km and 5km Series attracted 14,000 and 25,000 runners and walkers respectively at the end of August, and up front the elite women continued to dish up scintillating racing. Tears of Joy for Lebogang Irvette’s Big Weekend! SPAR Women’s 10km Pretoria, 30 August SPAR Women’s 10km Durban, 24 August In a remarkable weekend’s racing, Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank) claimed the win in the Pretoria leg of the Spar Series, crossing the line in 33:32 to improve the course record by five seconds, then hopped on a flight to KZN to go run the following day’s Mandela Day Marathon, which she won in 2:47:15 to improve the women’s course record by 19 minutes! Transnet’s Lebogang Phalula broke down in tears as she registered her first SPAR Women’s 10km victory since 2008. She beat a very strong field to win the 25th Durban Challenge in 33:06, with Zimbabwean Rutendo Nyahora (Nedbank) second in 33:41, followed closely by Rene Kalmer (Modern Athlete) in 33:49. Diana-Lebo Phalula finished fourth, with Irvette van Zyl fifth and defending champ Mapaseka Makhanya sixth. Speaking after her Pretoria win, Irvette said, “This is always a difficult race, because it’s in the afternoon, and there are a lot of hills, which I don’t like as much as I did when I was younger, but it was tough, which suits me!” She was was followed home by Zimbabwean Rutendo Nyahora (Nedbank) in 33:50, with the previous week’s Durban leg winner, Lebogang Phalula (Transnet), third in 34:05. Spar Grand Prix points leader DianaLebo Phalula was fourth in 34:17, with Modern Athlete’s Rene Kalmer crossing the line a further 30 seconds back in fifth. The Phalula twins broke clear of the pack after 3km, and by 5km they were well ahead, with Lebogang then pulling clear of Diana-Lebo, who is the frontrunner in the SPAR Grand Prix series. “I could see my sister was struggling, because she has a bit of a hamstring injury and eventually she told me to go and win the race for her,” said Lebogang. “I needed to win this race to prove myself, because I’ve had problems after I tested positive for a banned stimulant in Pretoria, but I’m now running clean and proud.” Images: Reg Caldecott Ma Jozi Finale Next Now all eyes will turn to the final leg of the 2014 series in Johannesburg on 12 October, with Grand Prix leader Diana-Lebo Phalula in pole position to win the first prize Nissan Micra. She won the first two races, i

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 63, October 2014 | Page 47