Foreigners uplifting standards of SA runners
SHUT out of the podium once again as foreigners dominated yet another leg of the Spar Women’s 10km Grand Prix Series, South African runners were unanimous in their view about the presence of internationals.
“It is good for us to have the other African runners here.”
The Nedbank International Running Club trio of Tadu Nare, Helalia Johannes and Salem Gabre occupied the top three positions for the third race running in the inaugural Mbombela leg of the six-race series.
Nare won just like she did in Durban last month, the Ethiopian speeding away in the final kilometre to win by 32:43 ahead of Namibia’s Johannes who finished in 33:02.
Young Ethiopian Gabre was third, 10 seconds after the veteran Johannes.
Mpumalanga native Glenrose Xaba was the first South African home in fourth place in 33:37 with Kesa Moletsane taking fifth spot in 33:44.
Xaba and the Phalula twins, Diana Lebo and Lebogang who ran in sixth and 10th respectively agreed that the competition from the foreign runners was good for them.
“Helalia is inspiring me,” Diana Lebo said. “She’s making me realise that age is just a number. I am 38 and to see her running the way she does at 40 says to me at 38 there is still a long way to go.”
The Boxer Athletic Club runner, who clocked a 33:57 and has been in the top 10 for all the three legs of the Series, said it was great that the local athletes didn’t have to go away for stiff competition.
“We have a tendency here at home that when we win races in 34-minutes we think we are stars. But because of these foreign athletes, we are always running PBS because they are really pushing us to give it our all.”
Her twin sister Lebogang, who cracked the top 10 for the first time this year, said she would love to see a local reigning victorious in one of the races.
“I am just recovering from a hamstring injury, but once I am fully fit, I can do a top five. I think Lebo is holding back, and the rest of the girls are not going all out to give the foreigners a challenge. I am going to be fit and I will beat them all,” she chuckled.
Xaba concurred that the foreign competition was good for the locals.
“I am happy to be the first South African athlete to finish the race. It was a very tough race and I felt it at Heartbreak Hill, it really is a heartbreaker.”
Xaba also expressed her disappointment at having missed out on the big international events.
“Of course, I am very disappointed that I did not qualify. But there’s another World Championships next year and I only missed qualification by just 15 seconds, and I will work to qualify. I am just happy that my coach (Caster Semenya) is there, and I am just supporting her.”