Pretoria, South Africa - After a race in which the lead changed hands several times, Rutendo Nyahora (Nedbank) stormed to the front to win the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge at Supersport Park in Centurion for the second year in a row.
She finished in 35.25 minutes and was followed by Diana-Lebo Phalula (Boxer), in 35.40. Newcomer Glenrose Xaba (Eskom) was third in 36.16 minutes, while Phalula’s twin sister and teammate, Lebogang, finished fourth, in 36.32.
Nyahora got off to a good start and took the early lead, before she was passed by former Pretoria champion Mapaseka Makhanya (Olifants) and Diana-Lebo Phalula. Makhanya led for much of the way, until Diana-Lebo Phalula and Nyahora went into the lead, leaving the rest of the front runners well behind. At about seven kilometers, Nyahora surged into the lead and stayed there until the finish line.
Xaba stayed close to the front-runners for most of the race, and passed more experienced roadrunners to claim the third place.
“I am so happy to have defended my title,” said a beaming Nyahora.
“At one stage, Mapaseka and (Diana) Lebo were fighting for position, so I just stayed behind them and waited for my chance. I know this route very well, and I knew that they would get tired, so I just waited for my chance, and when it came, I took it.”
Nyahora and Diana-Lebo Phalula both ran the Olympic marathon in Rio last month, Nyahora for Zimbabwe and Phalula for South Africa, and both said that being able to call themselves Olympians had helped to boost their confidence.
“I know I have to make things happen for myself,” said Nyahora.
Phalula said she had a very good race.
“I was feeling very light and I wasn’t tired,” she said.
“Although it was hot here, it was nothing like as hot as it was in Rio. I feel different about myself now that I can call myself an Olympian. I didn’t feel any pressure and I just enjoyed the race. I came third last year, and second this year. Next year it’s my race,” said Phalula.
Xaba, who is the South African cross-country champion, said she had not focused on the other runners, but had concentrated on maintaining her pace.
“They got away from me at five kilometers, but I just carried on running my own race. I am very happy to finish third,” said Xaba.
The junior runners who are being mentored by Grand Prix winners took the first three places in the junior race. Diana-Lebo’s protégé, Koletso Senosi was first, in 38.22 minutes, followed by Nicole van der Merwe, mentored by Irvette van Zyl, and Makhanya’s protégé, Simonay Weitz, was third.
Van Zyl, the current Grand Prix leader, is injured and did not run.
Twenty-seven-thousand took part in the 10km Challenge and the 5km Fun Run.
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