Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

Rene Kalmer, who won the Durban leg of the Spar Women's 10km Challenge on Sunday, said she was eyeing the World Championships in Japan in August.

Speaking after clocking her best time of 32:45, Kalmer said she wanted to win the race in 30 minutes, but it did not pan out that way.

"It was pacey and it was good to win it, though I wanted to do it in 30 minutes," she said.

She said Zimbabwean Tabitha Tsatsa, who came second, was the athlete to watch.

"I knew Tsatsa was going to be very competitive and she started the race very fast and after three kilometres she slowed down and I knew that was the time for me to push harder," Kalmer said.

Tsatsa set the pace from the beginning. She pushed so hard that many thought she was going to run away with the victory.

But she could only maintain that pace for two kilometres. As soon as the women passed the 3km mark, Kalmer hit the front and never looked back. There were times when she opened a 20m gap.

"I am on the right track for the World Championships. I think I will try and qualify for the All Africa Games in Algeria, but my ambition is to do well in Japan," said Kalmer.