LEBOGANG Phalula accomplished her goal of winning the Joburg leg of the SPAR Women’s Challenge and in doing so clinched the 2015 SPAR Grand Prix title.
Phalula won the Johannesburg SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge at the Wanderers Club in 35.08 minutes, to add to her victory in Durban, and her podium finishes in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria.
Despite the 29 degree weather, 13 500 participants completed the 10km and 5km races in the northern Illovo suburbs on Sunday, October 11.
For the elite runners the 10km challenge was a technical run from start to finish. The Phalula twins, Lebogang and Diana-Lebo, stuck together, but kept a close eye on their competition out to disrupt their winning streak.
Lebogang and Nedbank’s Rutendo Nyahora broke away from the pack almost immediately and continued to draw away from the rest of the field as the race went on. At four kilometres, Lebogang passed Rutendo and went into the lead. Rutendo finished second in 35.49 minutes. The 2014 Grand Prix titleholder, Diana-Lebo, was third, in 36.22 minutes, five seconds ahead of Randmark’s Keneilwe Sesing.
“I was very focused for this race,” said Lebogang Phalula. “I knew the others would push me but I just wanted to go for it. I was running with Rutendo at the beginning, but decided to push ahead at the four kilometre mark. They have changed the route and I really liked it, so I was comfortable throughout the race.”
Lebogang said she was very grateful to the sponsors for the Challenge races as they are a great motivator for road runners.
Results of the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge:
Open: 1. Lebogang Phalula 35:08; 2. Rutendo Nyahora 35:49 and 3. Diana-Lebo Phalula 36:22,
Junior: 1. Cherry-Lee Schoeman 36:39; 2. Nicole van der Merwe 38:23 and 3.Simonay Wetse 40:12,
Veteran (40-49): 1. Janene Carey 42:39; 2. Ronel Thomas 42:57 and 3. Melanie Jennett 43:59,
Master (50-59): 1. Judy Bird 42:19; 2. Ansie Breytenbach 45:01 and 3.Sarah Crooks 45:32,
Grandmaster (60+): 1. Frances van Blerk 50:00; 2. Sonja Laxton 50:58 and 3. Virginia Augustine 54:58.
