THE Women's 10km Challenge at Old Parktonians in Randburg on Sunday morning is expected to feature a battle royale among some of South Africa's top road runners.
Teammates Irvette van Blerk and Rene Kalmer have dominated the Spar Challenge in recent years, though Kalmer is focusing on qualifying for the marathon at the Olympic Games in London next year.
This year, Kalmer won the first Challenge race in Cape Town, but missed the Port Elizabeth and Pretoria races because of international commitments. Stomach cramps forced her out of the Durban race.
Van Blerk, who finished fourth in Cape Town and second in Port Elizabeth, won the Durban and Pretoria races, and will be defending her title in Johannesburg on Sunday. She is the favourite to win the race and to collect her second Grand Prix cheque. Diana-Lebo Phalula, who won the Port Elizabeth Challenge, and her twin sister Lebogang, are also strong contenders.
Poppy Mlambo, who has been out of action with an injury, is running again and is always competitive.
Other top runners are Christine Kalmer, Annerien van Schalkwyk, Zintle Xiniwe of Cape Town and the Zimbabwean runner, Rutendo Nyahora.
If she finishes in the top three, Van Blerk is assured of a cheque for R60000 for winning the series. She has 96 points after four races, and has a lead of 23 points over nearest rival Xiniwe.
Xiniwe has a mathematical chance of overtaking Van Blerk on the Grand Prix leader board, but the likelihood is that Van Blerk will win it for the second year in a row.
Van Schalkwyk is in third position, with 55 points, followed by Charne Bosman and Catherine Skosana on 49 points each. Kalmer, who has twice won the Grand Prix, would win some money if she finishes in the top 20 on the leader board.
"The Grand Prix is a great idea, it really adds something," said Van Blerk.
"The girls certainly bring their A-game when they know how much money is at stake. And most of the top runners now try to run all five of the races. Thinking about the money certainly puts a smile on your face."
Van Blerk closes in on Grand Prix
THE Women's 10km Challenge at Old Parktonians in Randburg on Sunday morning is expected to feature a battle royale among some of South Africa's top road runners.
Teammates Irvette van Blerk and Rene Kalmer have dominated the Spar Challenge in recent years, though Kalmer is focusing on qualifying for the marathon at the Olympic Games in London next year.
This year, Kalmer won the first Challenge race in Cape Town, but missed the Port Elizabeth and Pretoria races because of international commitments. Stomach cramps forced her out of the Durban race.
Van Blerk, who finished fourth in Cape Town and second in Port Elizabeth, won the Durban and Pretoria races, and will be defending her title in Johannesburg on Sunday. She is the favourite to win the race and to collect her second Grand Prix cheque. Diana-Lebo Phalula, who won the Port Elizabeth Challenge, and her twin sister Lebogang, are also strong contenders.
Poppy Mlambo, who has been out of action with an injury, is running again and is always competitive.
Other top runners are Christine Kalmer, Annerien van Schalkwyk, Zintle Xiniwe of Cape Town and the Zimbabwean runner, Rutendo Nyahora.
If she finishes in the top three, Van Blerk is assured of a cheque for R60000 for winning the series. She has 96 points after four races, and has a lead of 23 points over nearest rival Xiniwe.
Xiniwe has a mathematical chance of overtaking Van Blerk on the Grand Prix leader board, but the likelihood is that Van Blerk will win it for the second year in a row.
Van Schalkwyk is in third position, with 55 points, followed by Charne Bosman and Catherine Skosana on 49 points each. Kalmer, who has twice won the Grand Prix, would win some money if she finishes in the top 20 on the leader board.
"The Grand Prix is a great idea, it really adds something," said Van Blerk.
"The girls certainly bring their A-game when they know how much money is at stake. And most of the top runners now try to run all five of the races. Thinking about the money certainly puts a smile on your face."
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