New look Spar Grand Prix gets under way on Sunday
Star athletes Mapaseka Makhanya and Rene Kalmer, a former West Rand learner announced as 2017 Spar Grand Prix patrons.
The new look Spar Grand Prix gets under way on Sunday, 2 April when 21 000 women line up for the start of the Cape Town Women’s Challenge at the Mother City’s Green Point Stadium precinct.
For the first time, non-South Africans are eligible to accumulate Grand Prix points, which is very good news for Zimbabwean Rutendo Nyahora, who has been one of the most consistent top ten runners in the series for the past few years.
Two of South Africa’s most popular road-runners, Mapaseka Makhanya and Rene Kalmer, a former learner at Hoërskool Roodepoort on the West Rand, have been named as the patrons of the Spar Grand Prix this year. Both are former winners, with Rene having won the title three times and Mapaseka once.
Rene gave birth to daughter Karli less than two weeks ago, and is not expected to take part in any races before the Durban Challenge in June, while Mapaseka is making her way back into contention after a series of injuries.
“I feel very honoured to be a patron of the Spar Grand Prix,” said Rene. “I have been unable to run for nearly a year, first because of a hip injury, and then because I was pregnant. So I am very happy that I am still able to be part of the Spar Women’s Challenge Series.”
Mapaseka said she was very excited about the changes that have been made to the Grand Prix. These include the addition of the Pietermaritzburg race on 20 August, the Nelson Mandela Bay race on 6 May, the Durban race on 11 June, the Pretoria race on 5 August and the Johannesburg race on 8 October to the Cape Town race on 2 April, enabling elite runners to acquire Grand Prix points country-wide. Prize money has also been increased substantially, with the winner taking R173 000 home. There will also be cash incentives for runners who meet certain stipulated target times.
“I am particularly excited that the Grand Prix is now open to non-South Africans, and I am so happy for Rutendo. She is going to make life tough for the rest of us who are trying to win Grand Prix points,” said Mapaseka. “I am also very excited about being named a patron of the Grand Prix. It is a huge honour, and I know I will have to be a role model for other runners.”
Rene said the Spar Challenge races have been very important for the development of road running in South Africa. “I ran my first Spar race when I was 13, and they have played a very important role in my development as an athlete. I think many runners have discovered the joy of running after taking part in one of the Spar races. At the top level, competition is very tough – you used to be able to win the race with a time of 35 minutes – now you might not even make the top twenty with a time like that,” she said. She continued, saying, “Because there are now six races in the Grand Prix, you are motivated throughout the year.”
Mapaseka said it was particularly fulfilling to run in races designed specifically for women. “The atmosphere of the Spar races is very special. I can’t wait to get going with this year’s chase.”
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