Commonwealth Games marathon champion Helalia Johannes (Nedbank Namibia) cruised to victory in the Cape Town SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge, at the Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday.
Her time of 31.45 was a race record and also a Namibian national record, beating the record of 31.50 she set up in the Port Elizabeth Challenge earlier this month.
Ethiopian Sofia Chegen (Nike) was second in 32.09 minutes and Tadu Naru (Nedbank Ethiopia) finished third in 32.56.
Kesa Molotsane First Home for SA
The first ten finishers were all under last year’s winning time of 34.10, set by Kesa Molotsane (Murray&Roberts). Molotsane was the first South African home, finishing sixth in 33.40.
The race was delayed for about half an hour because of a last-minute route change for safety reasons.
Thirty-eight-year old Johannes, who won the Cape Town race in 2006, in 33.42 minutes, led from the start, running with a group of about five runners for the first five kilometres before she broke away.
“It was quite a challenging race because a lot of it is not on a tarred road, but the weather was perfect.” – Cape Town SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge Champ, Namibian Helalia Johannes
“I would like to thank my colleagues who ran with me, because they pushed me to do a good time.”
Johannes said her training was a mixture of long and short distances because she was training for the world marathon championship in Doha, Qatar, in September.
Chegen said she had kept pace with Johannes until the halfway mark, when the Namibian got away from her.
“I had a good run, although this was not my fastest time – I have done a 31.22 minute 10km” – Silver medalist, Ethiopia’s Sofia Chegen
Naru, who was second in Port Elizabeth, said she had not been able to train as much as she would have liked because of problems applying for a visa to run in South Africa.
Molotsane said she was very happy with her race.
“I came into the race with a quad injury, so I am very pleased with my position,” she said.
“I enjoyed the race. It was a very fast course and I am very happy to have these international runners competing as it helps us to run faster. The only problem was that we got quite cold because of the delayed start.”
Twenty thousand runners took part in the 10km Challenge and the 5km Fun Run.
Open Results of the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge, at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, on Sunday, 26 May, 2019:
1. Helalia Johannes (Nedbank Namibia) 31.45
2. Sofia Chegen (Nike) 32.09
3. Tadu Nare (Nedbank Ethiopia) 32.56
4. Sarah Naibei (Nedbank Kenya) 33.22
5. Birho Adhena (Ethiopia) 33.23
6. Kesa Molotsane (Murray&Roberts) 33.40
7. Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank CG) 33.43
8. Fortunate Chidzivo (Retail Capital Langa) 33.49
9. Jenet Mbhele (Umzimkhulu Striders) 34.07
10. Caroline Mhandu (Maxed Elite Zimbabwe) 34.08
Junior:
1. Tadu Nare (Nedbank Ethiopia) 32.56
2. Birho Adhena (Ethiopia) 33.23
3. Chante Dixon (Murray&Roberts) 38.58
20-39:
1. Helalia Johannes (Nedbank Namibia) 31.45
2. Sofia Chegen (Nike) 32.09
3. Sarah Naibei (Nedbank Kenya) 33.22
40-49:
1. Christiane (K-Way VCB Athletic Club) 38.27
2. Bulelwa Simae (Boxer WP)
Janene Carey (Boxer KZN) 39.56
50-59:
1. Obertine Kanyongo (Nedbank WP) 40.52
2. Grace de Oliveira (Murray& Roberts) 42.01
3. Suzette McIvor (Durbanville AC) 42.25
60-69:
1. Margie Saunders (Nedbank EC) 44.01
2. Olga Howard (Nedbank WP) 44.46
3. Nancy Will (Pinelands AC) 46.13
70-+:
1. Diana Thonson (K-Way VCB AC) 56.17
2. Marietha Herbert (Bellville AC) 56.17
3. Pixie Sparg (Celtic Harriers) 59.20
Photo 1 caption: SPAR Women’s Challenge Cape Town’s winner Helalia Johannes (Nedbank Namibia) crossing the finish line during the SPAR SPAR Women’s Challenge Cape Town in Green Point, Cape Town on Sunday 26 May 2019. Photo: Rogan Ward
Photo 2 caption: SPAR Women’s Challenge Cape Town’s top 3 finishes from the left; Tadu Nare (Nedbank Ethiopia); Helalia Johannes (Nedbank Namibia); Sofia Chegen (Nike) during the SPAR Women’s Challenge Cape Town in Green Point, Cape Town on Sunday 26 May 2019. Photo: Rogan Ward
Photo 3 caption: SPAR Women’s Challenge Cape Town’s winner Helalia Johannes (Nedbank Namibia) in action during the SPAR SPAR Women’s Challenge Cape Town in Green Point, Cape Town on Sunday 26 May 2019. Photo: Rogan Ward
With editing by gsport
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