This weekend sees the start of the Spar Grand Prix, with action kicking off on Saturday in Port Elizabeth. Now in its 13th year, the series has produced some memorable races and this year’s winner will take home a crisp R185 000, with R65 000 for 2nd and R40 000 for 3rd. For the first time, the Nedbank running club have assembled a green dream team specifically targeting this year’s series and the aim of the team is to produce the winner of each event as the series goes around the Country.
Spearheading the green dream team is the in shape Helalia Johannes. At 38 years old, many would not expect the Namibian star to pose a challenge, but the fact remains that she is currently in the best shape of her life. After winning the Commonwealth Games title last year in the marathon, Johannes followed that up earlier this year with a massive pb when she took victory in Nagoya Women’s marathon in a world class 2:22:25. Recently, Johannes also smashed the course record in the Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon taking victory in an extremely quick 1:10:30 over the undulating course.
Backing her up will be South Africa’s Irvette Van Zyl who is coming off a podium finish at the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon where she finished 3rd in her first attempt at the 56km ultra marathon. No stranger to the Spar Grand Prix series, Van Zyl has won multiple races in the past and will be looking to repeat that this year. Her personal best of 32:06 at last year’s Fnb 10km in Durban bodes her well to be in contention.
Another athlete looking to shine is 15km SA list leader Annie Bothma who for the first time takes on the series. The very fast athlete from the Western Cape will be looking to make amends from failing to finish the Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon last month after slipping on a water sachet during the race and taking a heavy fall. Her 10km pb of 34:39 dating back from 2015 will certainly go this year, especially with a 52:38 15km performance in December last year.
After finishing 2nd and 3rd overall in last year’s series, Nedbank running club Zimbabwe’s Rudo Mhonderwa and Rutendo Nyahora will both be looking to step up a place higher to better their achievements of 2018. Nyahora comes off a new 2:34 marathon pb and will use that strength to her advantage. They will be joined by Patience Murowe who boasts a fast 34:10 over 10km and also finished 7th overall in last year’s Grand Prix standings.
Also in action this weekend will eb the darling of the Port Elizabeth running community, Ntombesintu Mfunzi. The highly accoladed athlete will be stepping down in distance for this one as she prepares for a serous onslaught in the upcoming Comrades Marathon.
Look out for our green dream team athletes dominating the roads of South Africa in this year’s series which promises to provide some exceptional racing.