Media Release
STRONG FIELD FOR SPAR WOMEN ’ S 10KM GRAND PRIX RACE
The 2022 SPAR Women ’ s 10km Challenge Grand Prix looks set to for an exciting start in Gqeberha this weekend , when international and domestic road running stars line up at the Nelson Mandela University on Saturday morning .
Helalia Johannes
Although not back to the format of previous years , when thousands of women took part in each of the SPAR Women ’ s 10 km Challenge races , the events this year have been opened to 500 runners .
“ Last year , we were privileged to host the closing race of the SPAR Grand Prix Series ,” said SPAR Eastern Cape Sponsorship Manager Alan Stapleton . “ Now we have the even greater privilege of hosting the opening event of the 2022 Series .”
The previous two SPAR Grand Prix winners , Helalia Johannes of Namibia and Tadu Nare of Ethiopia , will be battling it out for top honours . Now a veteran , Johannes earned maximum points in 2019 , winning every race in record time . She missed the 2021 series , where Nare achieved a clean sweep . Nare went on to win her maiden marathon in Barcelona and will be brimming with confidence . The tussle between the two Nedbank runners should provide some thrilling running . Another Ethiopian runner , Selam Gebre , will be making her SPAR Grand Prix debut and could cause some waves .
Tadu Nare
Patience Murowe ( Nedbank ) can never be ruled out .
After being crammed into eight weeks in 2021 , the SPAR Grand Prix series returns to a calendar where the six races are spread out over a period of five months , giving the runners time to recover between races . The system of bonus points has also been reintroduced , which should make competition even fiercer , with the emphasis on fast times .
Tayla Kavanagh
“ In 2021 , we were blown away by the quality of the runners , and particularly by Tadu Nare ’ s dominance , which sadly was blunted by strong Gqeberha winds . This year we are hoping for a calm , wintery morning , with a route that should produce records and personal bests ,” he said .
“ SPAR ’ s flagship sponsorship , the SPAR Women ’ s 10km Challenge , has created an opportunity for us to celebrate women : their beauty , their power and their courage , and at the same time to underline SPAR ’ s commitment to raising awareness of the scourge of genderbased violence ,” said Stapleton .
Others expected to shine include the evergreen three-times SPAR Grand Prix winner , Irvette van Zyl , ( Nedbank ) who finished second in the Two Oceans ultra-marathon in April ; 2017 winner Kesa Moletsane ( Murray & Roberts ), who was runner-up in 2021 and rising stars Tayla Kavanagh ( M & R ) and Cacisile Sosibo ( Boxer ). The Phalula twins , Diana- Lebo and Lebogang ( Boxer ), are reported to be back at their best and Zimbabwean runner
Irvette van Zyl Phalula Twins
Saturday , 28 May Sunday , 26 June |
2022 SPAR GRAND PRIX CALENDAR
Gqeberha |
Saturday , 16 July |
Mbombela |
Sunday , 2 October |
Durban |
Saturday , 6 August |
Tshwane |
Saturday , 23 October |
HTTPS :// WWW . SPARWOMENSRACE . CO . ZA
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Johannesburg Cape Town |
Images : Reg Caldecott & Rogan Ward |
4 Spar Women ’ s Challenge Grand Prix Series | Gqeberha , 28 May 2022