Elite runners lace up for Spar Grand Prix in Durban
This year, only elite runners have been invited to take part and about 100 will be running in Durban.
THE Spar Grand Prix, South Africa’s premier women’s road running race, gets underway in Durban on Sunday, 27 June, at 07:00 with the live stream starting at 06:30.
This year, only elite runners have been invited to take part and about 100 will be running in Durban. The Spar Grand Prix Durban 10km Invitational race is the first of six races to be held at venues around South Africa.
Namibian Helalia Johannes will be gearing up to retain the title she won in 2019.
Johannes (Nedbank) burst onto the scene in 2019, winning all six races in record times and amassing maximum points to claim the first prize of R185 000.
Her Ethiopian teammate Tadu Nare was second, with 151 points, winning R65 000.
Three times Grand Prix winner, Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank), who finished fourth in the 2019 Grand Prix, is always in contention.
She recently qualified to run the marathon at the Tokyo Olympic Games and on May 23, running in the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers race in Gqeberha, she set a new world 50 km record of 3:04:23.
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Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) is a rising star and could be a force to be reckoned with in the 2021 SPAR Grand Prix.
Xaba who won the 2018 SPAR Grand Prix series finished sixth overall in 2019.
In April, she won the 10 000m track race in Pretoria and in May she won the South African 21km title in the Nelson Mandela Bay half marathon in Gqeberha.
Others who will be taking part on Sunday are former titleholders Kesa Molotsane (Murray and Roberts) and the Phalula twins, Diana-Lebo and Lebogang. (Boxer).
According to race director, Brad Glasspool, the Durban SPAR Invitational would be a very different race this year.
“In view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases, we decided to reduce the number of runners from the approved 250 to 150. We had to plan for the worst case scenario, a return to lockdown level 3,” said Glasspool.
He added, that a redesigned route and spacious outdoor start and finish venue has also been designed to allow for better social distancing.
“The national regulations will be applied strictly at the SPAR Grand Prix Durban 10km invitational. Masks must be worn at all times, except for athletes during the race. No spectators will be allowed but the race will be broadcast on live streaming and runners can be tracked live using the SPORTSPLITS app,” he said.
You can follow the livestream on the SPAR Grand Prix series Facebook Page: SPAR Grand Prix Series
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