Tadu Nare extends Grand Prix lead with gun-to-tape victory

Ethiopian distance runner Tadu Nare led from start to finish on Saturday, tearing the field apart at the second leg of the Spar Grand Prix women’s 10km series.

In the absence of defending champion Helalia Johannes, as well as injured athletes Glenrose Xaba and Irvette van Zyl, Naru hit the front and gradually extended the gap on the chase group to nearly three minutes on the two-lap course around Green Point Stadium.

She stormed over the line in 31:28, slicing 17 seconds off the race record of 31:45 which was set by Namibian athlete Johannes in 2019, albeit on a different course.

If she had more support at the front of the race, and if the conditions had been a bit warmer, the 20-year-old athlete felt she could have challenged the SA open record (30:58) which was clocked by Johannes in Durban two years ago.

“I definitely feel I could have run faster if I had more competition,” Nare said, speaking through a translator.

“I also lost time in the first two kilometres because it was a bit cold.”

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Having won the opening leg of the Grand Prix road running campaign in Pietermaritzburg two weeks earlier, Nare extended her lead in the six-leg series.

Kesa Molotsane was the best of the rest at the Cape Town race, breaking away from the chase group to finish second.

Molotsane was the first South African home, completing the race in 34:10.

Cian Oldknow produced a surprise to reach a Grand Prix podium for the first time, taking third position in 34:16.

“I’ve been struggling recently with injuries but this was a tactical race, so I was able to challenge for the top three,” Molotsane said.

“Today, for me, was all about position. It wasn’t about time.”