Ethiopia’s Tadu Nare lead a podium clean sweep by foreign athletes to win her third consecutive 2023 Spar Grand Prix title, in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 31 October, 2023.
Fellow Ethiopian Selam Gebre (Nedbank) finished in second place with 116 points and, after finishing runner-up in the first five races this year, she finally collected her first-ever win in a Spar Grand Prix race in Johannesburg, when Nare gave the race a miss.
In a podium clean sweep by foreign athletes, Lesotho international Blandina Makatisi (Maxed Elite) edged the top South African, Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) by a single point, 109 to 108, to take third place.
fast enough to score bonus points on each occasion. Photo: Reg Caldecott
Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer AC – 80 points), Cian Oldknow (Hollywood AC – 72 points) and Kesa Molotsane (Murray and Roberts RC – 71 points) rounded out the top 7.
Nare had notched up an unassailable 120 points after winning four of the six races in the series with times fast enough to score bonus points on each occasion.
Under the 2023 rules, where an athlete’s four best scores over the season count for the final tally, Nare elected to miss the final race in Johannesburg, so she could prepare for the Chicago Marathon on 8 October.
Nare becomes only the third athlete after Rene Kalmer and Irvette van Zyl to score a hat-trick of Grand Prix wins, and it accompanies a handsome pay day for Nate who wins R200,000 for her efforts, while Gebre takes home R100,000.
top 3 finisher of the 2023 SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard. From left is Lesotho’s Blandina Makatisi (3rd), Ethiopian
Tadu Nare (2023 champion) and Selam Gebre of Ethiopia. Photo: Reg Caldecott
In a first for the race, the top five South African’s in the race have will also be in for a more cash incentives over and above their Grand Prix winnings.
By clinching this competition-within-a-competition, Xaba wins R75,000. Sosibo in second takes home R50,000 and Oldknow R30,000. This lifted the overall Grand Prix prize purse to R765,000. Adding in the cash on offer at the six individual races, a total of R1.9m was earned by these runners over the season.
Judy Bird (Boxer) once again won the over-60 years category. This ever-consistent Grandmaster has made a clean sweep of her age group category for an impressive 3 years in a row, winning every race. In a tight contest in the 50-to-59-year category, traditional rivals Ronel Thomas (Boxer) and Janene Carey (Phantane) locked horns once again, with Thomas squeaking home by a single point – 39 to 38.
Makhosi Mhlongo’s 2 bonus points victories were enough to take her to the top of the 40-49- year category.
In the club competition, Boxer, with 531 points from 25 scorers, took the overall win ahead of Nedbank (404 from 30) and newcomer Hollywood (209 from 6).
Nare said the Women’s 10km races were the cornerstone of her success as a high-profile athlete.
“I love Spar and the Spar races and have always felt very welcome. I want to encourage young South African athletes to use the Spar Grand Prix series as their backbone for speed and endurance.
“My first Spar race as a junior was my first race internationally. I remember it so clearly. It changed the whole of my life and the way I think,” said Nare.
“I was beaten several times and I used to feel frustrated, but I kept going until I became a champion. I am happy to defend my title and I want to do so next year as well.
“Thank you to Spar and to the lovely people of South Africa,” said Nare.
Xaba said she felt blessed to be the first South African to receive the additional prize money.
“We thank the Spar Women’s series for motivating us and for helping us to compete with our sisters from Ethiopia, Kenya and Zimbabwe. I think winning this award will be made work harder in future,” said Xaba.
Main Photo caption: Only the third athlete after Rene Kalmer and Irvette van Zyl to score a hat-trick of Grand Prix wins, Ethiopian, Nedbank runner Tadu Nare was crowned 2023 Spar Grand Prix champion in her third consecutive win of the title, on Tuesday, 31 October 2023 in Johannesburg. Photo: Reg Caldecott
Photo 2 caption: Nare had notched up an unassailable 120 points after winning four of the six races in the series with times fast enough to score bonus points on each occasion. Photo: Reg Caldecott
Photo 3 caption: Pictured at the SPAR Grand Prix awards 2023 in Sandton, Johannesburg on Tuesday, 31 October 2023 are the top 3 finisher of the 2023 SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard. From left is Lesotho’s Blandina Makatisi (3rd), Ethiopian Tadu Nare (2023 champion) and Selam Gebre of Ethiopia. Photo: Reg Caldecott
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
