Get ready to take part in the Spar Grand Prix

EMMARENTIA – Not many records are expected to be broken this year.

March 4, 2020

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René Kalmer is once again ambassador of the SPAR Grand Prix. Photo: Murray & Roberts Running Club

This year’s SPAR Grand Prix appears likely to be one of the closest in its 14-year history.

The women’s running series features six 10km challenge races that take place around the country from March until October.

Prize money this year amounts to just under R550 000, not counting the prize money for individual races.

Runners accumulate points according to their finishing position in each race, with the winner earning 20 points and the 20th-placed runner earning one point. They can also earn points by beating the winning time in the corresponding race from last year. All runners who beat this time receive 10 points.

Namibian runner Helalia Johannes dominated the series last year, winning all six races in record time. She finished the competition with a full house of 180 points – the maximum possible. She was the first person to achieve this. In several races, the fast pace set by Johannes saw several other runners earning bonus points as well.

SPAR Grand Prix coordinator, Ian Laxton, said this is what will make the 2020 SPAR Grand Prix so competitive. “I don’t think we will see so many runners earning time points this year,” he said.

“In fact, I think even Johannes will find it hard to beat the times she set last year. This means that every point will count. I think there will be just two or three points between the top runners.

SPAR Grand Prix ambassador, Kesa Molotsane won the series in 2017. *Photo: Rogan Ward*

He said runners will have to run every race if they want a chance at winning the overall grand prix.

Young up-and-coming runners will also be eligible for an exciting new award – the Breakthrough Runner of the Year Award. This will be given to a South African athlete, who, in the opinion of the panel of judges, has shown the most improvement, and who has made an impact on the SPAR Women’s Challenge for the first time. The winner will receive prize money of R20 000.

Three-times SPAR Grand Prix winner René Kalmer has once again been named an ambassador for the SPAR Grand Prix and this year she has been joined as ambassador by the 2017 winner, Kesa Molotsane.

Kesa Molotsane is the newly announced SPAR Grand Prix ambassador. Photo: Murray & Roberts Running Club

“I am very happy and excited to be an ambassador for the SPAR Grand Prix,” said Molotsane. “Through the Grand Prix, SPAR has done much to empower women and I am very pleased to be able to give something back. I believe I can offer hope to other women.”

The first SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge race takes place in Port Elizabeth on 21 March and the second in Cape Town on 5 April.

SPAR Grand Prix ambassador, René Kalmer has won the series three times. *Photo: Rogan Ward*

The Grand Prix then moves to Durban (21 June) followed by Tshwane (1 August), back to KwaZulu-Natal for the Maritzburg race on 16 August and ends in Joburg (at Marks Park Sports Club, Emmarentia) on 4 October which this year celebrates its 30th race birthday.