The Nedbank runner’s win earned her 25 points, making it virtually impossible for the 2019 winner, Helalia Johannes of Namibia, to make up lost ground.  Johannes and two other Nedbank runners, Irvette van Zyl and Gerda Steyn, missed the opening race of the six race series because they were still recovering from the women’s marathon at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The South African half-marathon champion, Glenrose Xaba (Boxer), came second in Maritzburg, earning her 24 points.  Running in her first senior race, Tayla Kavanagh (Murray & Roberts) scored 23 points for her third place, while former SPAR Grand Prix winner, Kesa Molotsane (Murray & Roberts) finished fourth for 22.

Nare, who was runner-up in the 2019 SPAR Grand Prix, has committed to running all six races as she prepares for the Barcelona Marathon in November. She said after her win on Sunday that the 10km SPAR races are a crucial part of her training programme.

But Nare, Xaba, Kavanagh and Molotsane will have to remain at the top of their game over the next five races. Grand Prix competitions are all about consistency and if any of the top four runners has a bad run or misses a race, the final standings could change by the end of the series. It promises to be a thrilling competition that could go down to the wire.

A key difference this is that no time-incentive bonus points are being awarded this year, making it difficult for runners who miss any of the races to catch up.  In 2019, Johannes won with maximum points, winning all six races in record times.

This year, there could be even closer battles in the age category competitions, where only the first five runners earn SPAR Grand Prix points.

Former Comrades Marathon winner, Charne Bosman, leads the 40-49 category.  Elmarie Pretorius (Run/Walk for Life) is in the lead in the 50-59 group while SPAR 10km stalwart Judy Bird is top runner in the category for runners between 60 and 69.

Following an appeal after the completion of the SPAR Grand Prix Pietermaritzburg, the junior category is under review.

Murray & Roberts took all three podium places in the 40-49 and 60-69 categories to take a commanding lead in the race for club honours with 135 points. Nedbank is in second position with 81, followed by Boxer with 63.

The next race takes place in Cape Town on Saturday, September 4, followed by the Durban event on Saturday, September 11.

The winner of the SPAR Grand Prix will take home a handsome R190 000, with the runner-up winning R90 000 and the third-placed athlete earning R55 000.