TUESDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2024
STRONG FIELD FOR JOZI SPAR WOMEN’S 10KM CHALLENGE
There is a very strong field for the final race in the 2024 SPAR Grand Prix series – the Jozi SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge at Marks Park Sports Club in Emmarentia on Sunday. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) has already ensured that she will become the first South African woman to clinch the SPAR Grand Prix title since international athletes were admitted in 2019. She was also the last South African winner, having won the title in 2018. Xaba will be accompanied at the race by her mentor, double Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya and her coach Violet Raseboya.
Xaba said she was looking forward to Sunday. “I have enjoyed a great year, and I want to end it off on high on Sunday. I am prepared to give all I have to the race and my aim is to end the SPAR Grand Prix season with another win and in a good time.”
Three times SPAR Grand Prix winner Tadu Nare (Nedbank) and her teammate and fellow Ethiopian Diniya Abaraya, will also be taking part. Abaraya is the strongest contender for the second place in the SPAR Grand Prix. Nare was unbeaten in the SPAR Challenge in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Abaraya ran the world’s 13th fastest time by a junior in Gqeberha last month, where she finished second to Xaba.
Three times Comrades Marathon and five times Two Oceans Marathon winner, double Olympian Gerda Steyn (Phantane), will also be in action, as will blind runner and double Paralympian Louzanne Coetzee (Kovsies).
Gerda Steyn said she was happy to be in town to participate on the weekend. “I just love running the SPAR Grand Prix races,” said Steyn. “The SPAR Women’s Challenge events are such a fabulous event and one of the very few races which are only open to women which makes them so special and standout races from the rest. As women when you are collectively together and racing against one another and having fun, its very special and it’s all about us women on the day. I am super excited. I love the SPAR races, and I am happy I am in town running my hometown Jozi SPAR Grand Prix 10km race.”
Olympians will be strong on the ground on Sunday, with Rene and Christine Kalmer, (RunZone), Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli (Boxer) and Zimbabwean Rutendo Nyahora (Hollywood) all taking part.
There are also several former SPAR Grand Prix winners, including three-times winner Rene Kalmer, and the Phalula twins, Diana-Lebo Phalula-Mzazi (Boxer) and Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli, while Kesa Molotsane (Kovsies) will be making a welcome return to the race.
Others taking part include Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer), who has consistently finished in the top 10 in each race this year. She is likely to win the prize for the second most successful South African runner in this year’s Grand Prix.
Over 10 000 runners have entered for the Jozi SPAR Challenge, which takes the runners through some very attractive leafy suburbs, with some very challenging hills.
Online entries close on 3 October 2024, Enter here: https://sparwomensjozi.co.za
Limited entries will also be available to purchase at Marks Park Sports Club during race pack collection hours, 10h00 to 18h00 from Wednesday to Saturday 2-5 October as well as on race day Sunday 6 October from 06h00 to 07h30. Entries are subject to availability.
The 10km race will be livestreamed on the SPAR Grand Prix, SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi, Modern Athlete and Athletics South Africa Facebook pages from 07h50 on Sunday morning 6 October 2024.
