Namibia’s Helalia Johannes breaks African record at Durban’s Spar Women’s Challenge
A whooping R30,000 was raised for the race charity.
SUNDAY morning, 23 June saw women of all ages and fitness levels tackle the Spar Women’s 10km and 5km challenges, which took place in Durban.
A whooping R30,000 was raised for the race charity, Cancer Association with a cheque being presented at prize giving.
It was Namibia’s Helalia Johannes (Nedbank International) who ran an incredible 10km, completing in 30:59, it was the fastest time over this distance ever recorded in Africa.
“In doing so she also smashed the Namibian record for the third time in a matter of two months leaving junior international runner, 19-year-old Tadu Teshame (Ethiopia, Nedbank International), over one-and-a-half minutes (01:37) in her wake in 32:36 with former winner Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank) in third place a further 21 seconds adrift in 32:57,” reported sports journalist, Tommy Ballantyne.
Johannes added the Durban Challenge to the first two in the series of six races making up the SPAR Grand Prix, those in Port Elizabeth (May 4) and Cape Town (May 29), smashing the course records for these and also for the Durban Challenge course record of 31:38, that was set in 2000 by Colleen de Reuk.
“The 38-year-old Johannes did not take long to assert her domination over the field of 14,751 runners after the start in front of the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Masabalala Yengwa (NMR) Avenue, taking the Ethiopian junior Teshame and Van Zyl with her but gradually leaving them behind as she continued to dominate the race going through the opening first kilometre in 3min 05sec,” wrote Ballantyne.
“By the 3km mark Teshame and Van Zyl no longer posed her a problem as she swept along the Snell Parade alongside the Durban beachfront and headed south towards the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium racing through the halfway mark (5km) in 15:26.
Johannes appeared to be enjoying her entourage of motorcyclists from the Steelwings Club on their Harley Davidsons ensuring her a safe passage throughout the 30th anniversary of the race which was the first one of the SPAR races to be held in 1989 and which carried a prize purse this year of R30,000 to commemorate it.”
Johannes admitted that she had revelled in the perfect conditions that prevailed over the fast, flat 10km course and that she was happy to have done a personal best time.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the last three SPAR Grand Prix races being held, at altitude, in Pretoria (August 3), Pietermaritzurg (August 18) and Johannesburg (October 6).
Elite runners will not want to miss any of these races if they are to be in the running for the Grand Prix overall winner’s purse of R185,000, with the runner-up receiving R65,000 and the third placed runner R40,000.
Results
Open:
1. Helalia Johannes (Nedbank) 30.59
2. Tadu Nare (Nedbank) 32.36
3. Irvette Van Zyl (Nedbank) 32.57
4. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) 33.22
5. Janet Mbhele (Umzimkhulu Striders) 33.30
6. Caroline Mhandu (Maxed Elite) 33:46
7. Kesa Molotsane (Myrray&Roberts) 33.49
8. Betha Chikanga (Maxed) 34.04
9. Oliva Chitate (Maxed) 34.21
10. Patience Murowe (Umzimkhulu Striders) 34.27
Junior
1.Nare Tadu (Nedbank) 32:36
2. Tayla Kavanagh (Hillcrest Villagers Athletics club) 36:23
3. Dipulo Mashishi (Murray & Roberts) 38:05
20-39
1. Helalia Johannes (Nedbank Namibia) 30.59
2.Diana Lebo Phalula (Boxer) 34:59
3. Makhosi Mhlongo (Hollywood bets Running Club) 35:15
40-49
1. 1. Bulelwa Semai (Boxer) 38:36
2. Elizabeth Dlhiwayo (Run walk for life Rustenburg) 38:38
3. Janene Carey (Boxer KZN) 40:22
50-59
1.Judy Bird (Murry & Roberts) 41:10
2. Michelle Sims (PDAC) 25:28
3 Maya Lawire (Boxer) 41:26
60-69
1.Olga Howard (Nedbank) 44:54
2. Blanche Moila (Savages) 48:14
3. Colleen Peens (Team Vitality) 49:31
70+
1.Jackie Davis (Savages) 55:55
2 Gillian Tregenna (Wings Athletics) 01:01:48
3 Getrude Lottering (Boxer) 01:16:42
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