Kesa on course to defend her title
Women’s 10k Challenge reaches halfway mark
The Spar Grand Prix reaches the halfway mark on Sunday with the third leg of the Women’s 10km Challenge in Durban.
Defending Grand Prix champion Kesa Molotsane has taken positive steps in her bid to retain her title. She won the first two races, in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, and has 40 points – two ahead of her nearest rival Glenrose Xaba, who finished second in both races. Molotsane appears to be in good form. She was the first South African home in the Cape Town OneRun 12km race in May, finishing third against a strong international field, with an impressive time of 39:53 minutes. Last year’s Grand Prix runner-up Irvette van Zyl gave birth a few weeks ago and will not be running.
Zimbabweans Patience Murowe, Rudo Mhonderwa and Rutendo Nyahora will be competing, and Murowe in particular could give Molotsane a run for her money. She finished third in Port Elizabeth. Other elite runners who could perform well include Nolene Conrad, who missed the PE race because she was recovering from a heavy schedule, Christine Kalmer and the Phalula twins – Lebogang and Lebo – both former Grand Prix winners.
So far this year, none of the elite runners has managed to earn bonus points by recording a faster time than last year, but this could change after Sunday.
Bonus points are invaluable in the race for the top of the Grand Prix ladder.
The 10km route loops around Kingsmead Cricket Stadium and go past Moses Mabhida Stadium before finishing at the King’s Park rugby ground.