Runners all set for picturesque race

THE race is on for the SPAR Women’s main event that takes place around Alexandra Park tomorrow morning.

Back to defend her title is Gauteng’s Lebogang Phalula.

Having completed the race last year in a dazzling time of 34:41, the second fastest time clocked in recent times, Phalula is aiming to improve on her Grand Prix standing where she is sitting in fourth place.

Sporting number one is Irvette van Zyl who is running in the colours of Nedbank.

Van Zyl has had mixed fortunes on the road this year, with two second places, and a first in the last SPAR Grand Prix event held in Pretoria.

The three-time Grand Prix winner had one glitch when she was forced to retire in Durban because of her niggling back injury. She is currently second on the GP log.

Leading the pack is the hard-working KPMG athlete, Kesa Molotsane.

Molotsane has accumulated 107 points in the four races held prior to the Pietermaritzburg 10km.

In all of her races, she has an impressive presence on the podium with two firsts kicking off her GP year, followed by a second in the Durban event and a third in the Pretoria race.

She is 19 points clear of Olympic runner, Van Zyl.

Waving the KZN flag, Jenna Challenor will be back. Having had a quiet year plagued with injuries, it will be interesting seeing the one-time winner flying around the familiar route, but this time with many more elite athletes in the front pack.

Back from training in Scotland, Durban athlete Tanith Maxwell, also a one-time winner, has turned her focus on the longer distances, so she will be stretching her legs around the picturesque setting.

Comrades darling Caroline Wostmann is pencilled down as an entry running for KPMG.

A maximum capacity field of 4 500 runners is expected around Alexandra Park in the two race distances, with the route being described as an out and back.

Both fields have a start at 8am.

The predicted weather looks to be a chilly 9ºC clear, sunny skies at the start time, and warming up to 21ºC during the course of the day.

Entries – open to all from ages of 14 years and up in the 10km event, and 9 years in the 5km races – are still available at race registration at Cricket Stadium, Alexandra Park, today (10am to 3pm), or until the maximum of 4 500 entries are reached.

Entry fees are R100 for the 10km licensed athletes and the 5km runners, and R110 for the non-licensed athletes; the extra R10 includes a temporary licence for the day.