René Kalmer claimed the R50 000 SPAR Grand Prix prize with a comfortable victory in the Johannesburg leg of the 10km series, and her determination to see out victory overcame a two-year battle with injury, including a hip injury and a bout of sinusitis.
By the second kilometre, however, Kalmer opened up a lead on the chasing pack and was never threatened after that. "The first kilometre is always the hardest, but I knew if I got out in front I could defend that lead," said the Mr Price runner.
The hills of Randburg ensured the pack wasn’t able to stay together for very long and Annerien van Schalkwyk – running in the colours of Irene – comfortably slotted in to second place, with Catherine Nkosi running in third.
The three paced their race well and, but Tuks’ Marelise Retief blitzed the last half of the course to challenge for third place. Kalmer and Van Schalkwyk were home in 36min and 36:22min respectively, but Retief passed Nkosi in the final straight to place third in 36.59.
"My goal was win the series this year after struggling for so long and I’m so happy I was able to do that here," said Kalmer, "As for the money – it hasn’t sunk in yet!"
For Van Schalkwyk coming in behind Kalmer was quite an achievement. She has been on the running circuit for some time now and taken the scene by storm in the past year.
"I trained on my own for a while and now I have a coach who I’ve been working with for the past four years," said Van Schalkwyk, who has placed second in the Grand Prix, "To be in the same class as René is amazing, and that means the training is paying off."
The Grand Prix motivated most of the runners in the field yesterday to push for a higher spot of the standings, but for Retief it was the hills of Randburg that proved motivation enough.
"This is the only leg of the Grand Prix that I have run and I really enjoyed it," said Retief, "I love this course and I’m mad about the hills in Randburg so that’s why I was able to do so well at the end."
The inaugural Grand Prix was put in place as a way to link the Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg legs of the Spar 10km Challenge Series and it has proved to very popular.
The numbers are bound to go up next year considering the success this time around. Kalmer has set her sights on running more track events and qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games in the coming year so the Grand Prix will be there for the taking.
Johannesburg SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge with Bokomo, on Sunday, 14th October 2007, at the Old Parktonian Club, Randburg, Johannesburg
Open:
1. René Kalmer (Mr Price Central Gauteng) – 36.00
2. Annerien van Schalkwyk (Irene) – 36.22
3. Marelise Retief (Tuks) – 36.59
4. Catherine Nkosi (Transwerk) – 37.28
5. Gloria Baeba (Harmony Gauteng North) – 37.43
6. Cornelia Joubert (Jannas) – 37.59
7. Praxedis Dim (Brotherhood) – 38.28
8. Poppy Mlambo (Mr Price Central Gauteng) – 38.39
9. Charné Bosman (Mr Price Gauteng North) – 38.42
10. Tessa Burrell (Gauteng Striders) – 38.52
Juniors:
1. Cornelia Joubert (Jannas) – 37.59
2. Praxedis Dim (Brotherhood) – 38.28
3. Nomvula Dlamini (Vryheid) – 39.50
Veterans:
1. Tessa Burrel (Irene) – 38.25
2. Grace de Oliveira (Mr Price KZN) – 39.09
3. Sarah Mahlangu (Raiders) – 42.43
Masters:
1. Marietjie Ceranio (Harmony AVT) – 45.18
2. Sonja Laxton (RAC) – 45.51
3. Frances van Blerk (Harmony AGN) – 46.37
Grand Masters:
1. Wendy Wilkins (RAC) – 54.01
2. Gwyneth Staples (Chamber) – 1.05.06
3. Mavis Stadler (Arcadia) – 1.07.46
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