Age and nationality the motifs of this year’s SPAR Grand Prix Joburg

The SPAR Grand Prix Joburg delivered yet another day of tears, drama, emotional displays of comradeship and, as always, truly incredible achievements.

Tadu Nare won the 10km race at Marks Park Sports Club on October 2 in a fantastic time of 33:32 to become virtually assured of winning the six-leg series when the final arrives in Cape Town on October 23.

There, she only has to finish within nine places of Selam Gerbe to defend her series title.

At 42 years old, 2019 winner Helalia Johannes was particularly impressive. She recovered after a fall at the start to finish second in 34:07 in a race where the next oldest runner in the top 10 was 30 years old.

Indeed, 23 years separated Johannes from the 19-year-old Gerbe (34:12), though age was not the only notable observation in this run –nationality was as well.

The top three finishers were from Ethiopia, Namibia and Ethiopia respectively, and all from Nedbank Running Club with Boxer Athletics Club’s Glenrose Xaba in fourth, the first South African to cross the line, in 34:25.

Only two other runners in the top 10 were South African – the rest from Ethiopia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

But the majority of runners on the day were not there to compete and there were hundreds of them.

They enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere and laughs with MCs Arnold Geerdts and Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp.

The weather was lovely, jacaranda trees were in bloom and the picturesque streets of Emmarentia were a joy to run on the two-lap route.

“Thank you for the opportunity to run, I am very happy and excited to be the winner,” Nare said through her translator at the media briefing after the run.

“I ran a half marathon in Denmark last week and I was still tired after that so I thought Helalia would win. But with a kilometre to go, I just made my break and went for it.”

Gebre said given a few more metres she might have beaten Johannes.

“It was a very close finish and I was pushing myself as hard as I could,” she said.

“Just a few more metres and I could have taken it.”

Xaba has run several races this year and so was proud to bag fourth position in such a competitive time.

“It was not easy after such a long season and I am tired,” she said.

She was awarded R10 000 by SPAR for being the first South African to cross the line.

A late entry to the race, Mapaseka Makhanya was a welcome face at the press briefing, where she discussed her recent return to running.

“During Covid-19, I lost my dad so since 2019 I have only recently returned to running,” she said.

“I have to thank the organisers for taking me in last-minute. Running brings me joy. It feels like I belong here.”