Kesa: I did not want to miss 10km Challenge

KESA MOLOTSANE, bucked the trend and defended her title at yesterday’s SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in cool conditions in Bellville.

Over 20 000 participants completed the 10km and 5km run and 10km walk along a hilly circuit in the Tygervalley district, with the 26-yearold student leading the charge to the finish line at Bellville Stadium in a time of 34 minutes 10 seconds.

For the past six years no athlete has defended her title in the Cape Town leg of the series, but from the gun there was little doubt that the Free State University track, cross country and road star would triumph.

Admittedly, the absence of the world-class runners who were in the South African team at the World Half Marathon Championships in Spain over the weekend helped her cause, but this should not detract from a fine performance in difficult circumstances. “I picked up an infection travelling back to South Africa after running in the African Cross Country Championships in Algeria last weekend and have felt pretty bad this week,” admitted Molotsane.

“But I did not want to miss this race as it would have impacted on my standing in the series.”

Johannesburg athlete, Glenrose Xaba, finished second, 29 seconds behind, with 2004 and 2016 winner, Irvette van Zyl, completing the podium in one of the most remarkable performances of the day.

Few would have guessed that Van Zyl was approaching her seventh month of pregnancy with her second child as she kept pace with Molotsane and Xaba through 6km with apparent ease.

It was only when Molotsane surged away on an ascent before cracking on the pace on a long downhill after 7km that Van Zyl dropped behind, as did Xaba.