Schools to score at Spar race
JOBURG - Schools are the nurseries for the development of sportsmen and women in various disciplines, and running is no exception.
Two of South Africa’s most prominent runners, Olympians Rene Kalmer and Irvette van Zyl, are among the many who started their running careers at school.
“I started running when I was at primary school, and I’ve been running ever since,” said Kalmer. They both started taking part in the Spar Women’s 10km Challenge races in their early teens, and both were still at school when they won their first Challenge races.
The Johannesburg Spar Challenge race at the Wanderers Club on 13 October offers schools the opportunity to test their young runners and stand a chance of winning computer equipment worth thousands of rands.
Girls participating in the 10km Challenge must be 15 or older, but there is also a 5km Fun Run, which means the schools competition is open to primary schools as well. Although some girls may want to emulate runners like Kalmer and Van Zyl, walkers are welcome in both events, and many girls may prefer to walk the routes.
Many schools use the race to promote school unity and some organise competitions within the schools, house against house, or grade against grade.
Entries for the schools competition should be submitted by 28 September. Only entries of 20 or more pupils are eligible for the prizes, and at least 20 girls must complete one or other race.
As an added incentive, the first 15 000 pre-entries will receive a free T-shirt, and the first 15 000 to finish will be given a medal and a goodie-bag.
