Blazing Hanlie will be one to catch

HANLIE Botha is the clear favourite to win the annual Kempston women's 10km race this afternoon.

Her Born 2 Run clubmate, Cindy Schwulst will also be in the field and is in fact the defending champion, having won a close tussle with Stephanie Smith last year. Botha did not run the 2017 race due to injury and Smith is a doubtful starter this year.

Botha has already won the PWC 10km, the Tomato Trot 15 and the Discovery 17.5km in fine style this year and the tough nature of this course is unlikely to scare her off.

It had been hoped that another two of their club members, Smith, who won the Laser Eye Hospital 10km in a close tussle with Botha and Border's international cross-country runner, Cherise Sims might be in the field to really spice up the racing. Smith is doubtful due to personal considerations, while Sims is participating in the Eastern Province Track and Field Championships in preparation of defending her SA steeplechase title later this month.

Other top women to keep an eye out for, and fighting it out in a pocket of their own, would normally have been Caryn Lategan of Born 2 Run, Andrea Ranger and Ingrid Webber both of Old Selbornians. Lategan will however not be running and nor is Webber, both of whom are preparing for a big goal race later this month. Someone like Jaime Griffiths of Born 2 Run could fill the vacuum they leave.

The younger Schwulst sister, Tara, is likely to challenge this grouping too and will almost certainly win the junior race, with her Born 2 Run junior compatriot, Danieka de Kock also prominent. In the veteran race it is difficult to imagine anyone beating Born 2 Run's Karen Davis who has won the category at will in recent times.

Janet Kieck is often in this categories prizes, but Bonnie Curren is not running, while Janine Donaldson is using the outing as a second training run. The players in the master's race are normally Sharon Wood of Run Walk for Life, Sherae Kreush of Born 2 Run, Sharon Eldridge of Old Selbornians and Debbie Gee of Oxford Striders, though the star performer at the Buffs Marathon was Hester Ferrezuelo of Born 2 Run.

In the grandmasters competition keep an eye on Old Selbornians’ Beanie Beard and Michelle Whittington.

The race starts and finishes at Oxford Striders in Beach Road and also has a 5km component to it.