Gemeda is the winner of Spar Challenge
JOBURG - Gezashigh Hunduma Gemeda walked away with the Joburg Spar Women Challenge which took place at the Wanderers Club on Sunday, 13 October.
The second position was taken by Rene Kalmer and third place went to Rutendo Nyahora.
“I did not expect the other runners to be this strong,” said Gemede.
She was very excited to take part in her first Spar Women’s race.
Kalmer said, “It’s a bit of a sour taste to beaten by a foreign racer in my country. But it’s a good thing to have competition.”
Nyahora said she feels like a winner after coming out in the top three.
“I expected a tough race so I just started running fast from the start,” she added.
This was the 23th Spar race and saw the legendary runner Sonja Laxton running her 80th race.
The number of the runners, who participated in both the 10km and 5km, was 10 162. Last year the participants were 12 302.
The race kicked off at 8am outside the Wanderers Cricket Club.
The 10km race took route took the runners along Corlett Drive and Oxford Road as far as Kilarny before zigzagging back to Wanderers.
The 5km route went through Illovo Melrose, Birdhaven and Atholl-Oaklands.
Mapaseka Makhanya, who finished in 13th position, came into the race having collected the most points in the Grand Prix, which consisted of five challenge races. She walked away with a Nissan Micra for that great achievement.
Bruce Davidson, the sponsorship consultant for Spar race, said, “The Spar is very unhappy that SA Athletics allowed the Joburg Nike race to take place night. We think there was a conflict which affected our race.”
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