This heritage day see’s the Spar Grand Prix series move to Tshwane at the Agricultural Research Farm in Centurion and Nedbank RC Ethiopian athlete Tadu Nare will look at extending her lead on the top of the table after already winning the first 3 races in the series.
The young athlete has been unchallenged so far in the first 3 races and looks to be on her way to victory yet again as defending series champion and Nedbank RC teammate Helalia Johannes has once again withdrawn from Friday’s event with an injury.
“I am looking forward to run Spar again,” said the quietly spoken athlete through her coach, Belay Hagos. “I don’t expect a fast time because we will be running at altitude but I will just be making sure that I win again.”
Joining her will be a host of Nedbank RC teammates. The always smiling Gerda Steyn who is preparing for next month’s Cape Town Marathon will be out in action again after her 3rd place podium finish down in Durban.
With top 10 finishes in all 3 legs so far, Patience Murowe and Stella Marais will be looking to keep that rhythm going, with Marais being a local in the area. A welcome return as well to the event see’s multiple Spar women’s race winner Irvette Van Zyl back in action in what will be her first race since running the Tokyo Olympic Games Marathon where she had to step off the course due to injury.
1992 Comrades Marathon winner Frances Van Blerk will be out in action in the 60+ category, which she regularly wins in the Gauteng North region. Once again R25 000 will be up for grabs to the race winner, with prize money being paid to the top 20 finishers, as well as multiple age group category’s.
Race Director Wynand Breytenbach says the route will be very different this year.
"Because of the limited numbers, we can run it entirety in the grounds of the Agricultural Research Farm. There will be three laps, with three turning points and the runners should be able to see each other all the time," he said.
"It is an enclosed area, so there will be no traffic. It won't be a fast race but it will be an interesting one. It will be a rural rather than an urban race."
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