SPAR Women’s Challenge inspires generations
EMMARENTIA – Helalia Johannes makes it six out of six at SPAR Women's Challenge Joburg.
The theme at this year’s SPAR Women’s Challenge was Inspiring runners through generations, and the annual run at Marks Park Sports Club lived up to this.
A whopping 13 700 daughters, moms, grandmothers and supportive men hit the streets for a good cause on 6 October.
Proceeds of the run equated to R85 000 and a further R207 000 raised by a SPAR initiative, which was donated to Reach for Recovery Foundation, a breast cancer support group.
On the elite running front, favourite Namibian runner Helalia Johannes made it six out of six in the 10km SPAR Grand Prix series, winning them all in record time.
She won the Joburg race in 33:16, with Gerda Steyn over a minute behind in 34:28 and last year’s champion Irvette van Zyl third in 34:40.
All three runners are sponsored by Nedbank.
“This was by the grace of God who gave me strength to carry me through,” Johannes said after the win.
“This year I did my best time in marathon and 10km. I thank South Africans for inviting me to take part in the series. There are super runners here.”
She said she would speak to her coach about her schedule next year, but hinted that she would try to run the SPAR Grand Prix again.
Steyn described Johannes as a runner of excellent calibre, adding that it motivated local runners to improve to reach her level.
Van Zyl was exhausted and emotional at the post-match press conference and was close to tears. With Johannes’ hand on her shoulder she described how she had overcome much in the past seven years and was proud of how she got back into running.
Johannes’ closest challenger in the series was Ethiopian junior runner Tadu Nare who finished fourth in Joburg.
Fourteen of the top 15 runners in the 5km race were Murray and Roberts Running Club members, the winner being Mashini Khunedi.
Sonja Laxton was also celebrated for finishing her 100th SPAR run.
“Today’s race was lovely. The people were great and the atmosphere was lovely,” she said. “I was nervous for this day to happen.”
Laxton raised money during her run for the Goldilocks and the Bear Foundation which supports children with learning disabilities.
At prize-giving, Johannesburg Girls Preparatory School from Berea was awarded a laptop and all-in-one printer for having 276 runners on the day.
Participants Phumzile Nyembe won a R15 000 SPAR voucher and Duduzile Mashini won a Suzuki Celerio.
Drop a pair
Many community members showed they care by donating running shoes to young girls in need.
The Drop Off a Pair and Show You Care campaign is still in effect and has been since Caxton Local Media noticed many children running the race barefoot in 2015.
Community members are encouraged to donate a pair of running shoes that are in good condition at Marks Park Sports Club or at one of the two Caxton branches in Joburg north. These are at 368 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall, and 1187 Cornelius Street, near the corner of JG Strijdom Road, Weltevreden Park.
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