ELITE RACE

The iconic Totalsports Women ’ s Race will boast a bigger-thanever prize purse in 2024 , and the top elite athletes set to line up in the three races are primed to deliver scintillating times .

“ We are excited to announce that the total prize purse for the 2024 Totalsports Women ’ s Race has more than doubled to R412,500 , underscoring our commitment to making this year ’ s event truly exceptional ,” says Michael Meyer , Managing Director of Stillwater Sports . “ The R137,500 earmarked for each race includes prize money for the top 10 in the Open category ,

Double the prize money in 2024 will spur the top runners on !

with the winner receiving R30,000 , and prize money will also be allocated to the top three finishers in the various age categories .”

Nikki Crous , the Head of Marketing at Totalsports , adds , “ We are thrilled to increase the prize purse for the Totalsports Women ’ s Race in 2024 . This increase not only rewards the winners , but also acknowledges the dedication , sacrifice and determination of all participants . It ’ s a recognition of the countless hours of training , the early mornings and the late nights ,

that each athlete commits to their preparation . It is an honour to support and reward these incredible athletes who inspire and motivate others through their passion for running .”

With the race now spanning three separate days in three different cities , the level of action and excitement will be higher than ever , says Meyer . “ We are proud to enhance the celebration of women by increasing the prize purse and attracting strong elite participation , ensuring that this year ’ s race is a memorable and empowering experience for all .”

The list of former winners of the three Totalsports Women ’ s Races includes a veritable who ’ s who of South African road running , going right back to Elana Meyer winning the first race in Cape Town in 2002 . (* denotes the fastest time run for each race .)

Totalsports Women ’ s Race Cape Town

2002 Elana Meyer 32:51 2003 Carlien Cornelissen 34:33 2004 René Kalmer 34:45 2005 Mamorallo Tjoka ( Lesotho ) 34:04 2006 Zintle Xiniwe 34:34 2007 Bulelwa Mtshagi 37:02 2008 Anneline Roffey 34:41 2009 Mia Pienaar 37:17 2010 Lusanda Bomvana 37:20 2011 René Kalmer 34:04 2012 Bulelwa Simae 36:25 2013 René Kalmer 33:35 2014 Irvette van Zyl 32:20 * 2015 Lebo Phalula 33:16 2016 Zintle Xiniwe 36:58 2017 Lebogang Phalula 34:21 2018 Annie Bothma 35:20 2019 Annie Bothma 34:52 2020 No event due to COVID-19 2021 No event due to COVID-19 2022 Fortunate Chidzivo ( Zimbabwe ) 35:28 2023 Lisha Van Olselen 37:51

Totalsports Women ’ s Race Johannesburg

2007 Irvette van Zyl 37:34 2008 Irvette van Zyl 36:49 2009 Irvette van Zyl 35:31 2010 Irvette van Zyl 35:31 2011 Lebo Phalula 35:50 2012 Lebo Phalula 35:45 2013 Cornelia Joubert 37:55 2014 Lebogang Phalula 36:01 2015 Lebogang Phalula 33:22 * 2016 Lebogang Phalula 33:41 2017 Irvette van Zyl 34:09 2018 Mamorallo Tjoka ( Lesotho ) 34:33 2019 Glenrose Xaba 35:05 2020 No event due to COVID-19 2021 No event due to COVID-19 2022 Glenrose Xaba 34:36 2023 Irvette Van Zyl 34:58

Totalsports Women ’ s Race Durban

2011 René Kalmer 33:21 2012 René Kalmer 34:21 2013 Jenna Challenor 34:59

This year ’ s Totalsports Women ’ s Races could see some records rewritten , or some names added to the lists of stand-out performers in the annals of the races . For example , the fastest time yet posted in one of the Totalsports Women ’ s Races was Irvette van Zyl ’ s 32:20 in the 2014 Cape Town race , but expect that stat to be rewritten in 2024 . For starters , the Durban field features two sub-31-minute athletes , so chances are good that the Totalsports Women ’ s Race will see at least it ’ s first sub-32 this year .

Most Wins

9 Irvette van Zyl ( CTx1 , Jx6 , Dx2 ) 5 René Kalmer ( CTx3 , Dx2 ) 5 Lebogang Phalula ( Ctx1 , Jx3 , Dx1 ) 3 Lebo Phalula ( CTx1 , Jx2 ) 3 Glenrose Xaba ( Jx2 , Dx1 )

There are no athletes likely to add their names to the list of three or more wins this year , but we could see the first ever Totalsports Women ’ s Race win by an international athlete who is not based in South Africa . The only previous non-South African winners were Mamorallo Tjoka ( Lesotho ) and Fortunate Chidzivo ( Zimbabwe ), both of whom are ( or were ) South African-based .

Double Wins in Same Year

2011 René Kalmer Cape Town & Durban

2014 Irvette van Zyl Cape Town & Durban

2015 Lebogang Phalula Johannesburg & Durban

In past years , the three Totalsports Women ’ s Races were all run on the same day , or at least two were run on the same day , and usually in close proximity to each other on the calendar , so it was especially hard to win more than one Totalsports Women ’ s Race in the same year . Given the three separate race dates this year , the standard of the elite fields assembled , and the increased prize money , we may see another double winner in 2024 . In fact , we could even see a triple winner !

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