Sitting on top of the series table with 25 points, the 20-year-old Nare who hails from Ethiopia is no stranger to the South African road running scene where as a 17 year old she made a name for herself in the very same series. 

Not only has she grown in experience and confidence, but Nare has gotten a lot faster too. Her winning time of 32:22 saw her take the title in the first leg by over a minute ahead of second place finisher Glenrose Xaba. 

With Nedbank running club teammates Helalia Johannes and Irvette van Zyl still out of action after competing in the recent Olympic Games Marathon in Japan, Nare will be looking for another 25 points and extend her lead. This will make it impossible for defending series champion Johannes who is hoping to be back in action once the series returns to Durban on 11 September. 

Joining Nare in Cape Town will be a host of Nedbank RC teammates which include Patience Murowe and Stella Marais who will look to repeat their top 10 finishes from the first leg and climb higher in the overall Grand Prix rankings. 

The winner of the overall series takes home a staggering R190 000 with 2nd and 3rd taking home R90 000 and R55 000 respectively. 

Coach Belay Hagos who oversees Nare is confident that his athlete will cross the line victorious again on Saturday. “Tadu is in great shape and it showed with her win on the first leg,” said Hagos. “It’s a pity that Johannes and Van Zyl are still missing because they would definitely push her but we will target a time of under 32 on the weekend because the course will be faster than what she ran in Pietermaritzburg.” 

Nare is using the Spar Grand Prix series as preparation towards her debut marathon later this year where she is set to run in Barcelona. After a 69:09 half marathon personal best earlier in May at the Sa Half Marathon Championships, Nare is in the form of her life. 

The Nedbank running club wishes Nare and her Nedbank RC teammates all the best for Saturday. 

2021 SPAR GRAND PRIX CALENDAR
Sunday, 22 August – Pietermaritzburg
Saturday, 4 September – Cape Town
Saturday, 11 September – Durban
Friday, 24 September – Tshwane
Sunday, 3 October – Johannesburg
Saturday, 9 October – Gqeberha