Kavanagh breaks through with first SPAR Grand Prix win

Tayla Kavanagh delivered a stunning performance on Sunday, earning her first victory in a SPAR Grand Prix race at the opening leg of this year's 10km women's road running series in Cape Town.

Kavanagh, representing Hollywood Athletics Club, held on to the back of defending series champion Glenrose Xaba (Boxer Athletics Club) for most of the race before launching a furious kick in the closing stages to snatch the win.

The 24-year-old athlete completed the contest in 31:33, chopping eight seconds off her personal best (31:41) set in Cape Town in October last year. She was just 21 seconds outside the national 10km record (31:12) held by Xaba.

Xaba was five seconds off the pace, crossing the finish line in 31:38, while her Boxer teammate Kyla Jacobs took a big step forward in her comeback to elite competition by taking third place in a career best 32:16.

In a quick race, the top seven women all dipped under 34 minutes.

Kavanagh was all smiles after handing Xaba a rare defeat and taking the early lead in the SPAR Grand Prix series.

"We had a good battle out there. The race went well and I'm happy to walk away with a personal best today," Kavanagh said afterwards.

"It was a good, honest race between me and Glenrose. I love racing against her, and we put in a good, hard effort out there today, so all-round it was a great race.

"I've put in a lot of work in training, so I'm really proud of myself and the team around me, and I'm very blessed and grateful to walk away with the win."

Xaba admitted she had hoped Kavanagh would help push the pace, with the eventual winner opting to sit back before putting in a surge in the chase for the line.

She was pleased with the result, however, with both Kavanagh and Xaba going well under 32 minutes.

"I thought Tayla would come on board and we could help each other along the way, but she didn't take the lead, so I tried my best to push the pace," Xaba said.

"If she pushed the pace with me, I think we were going to run even better times, but I'm very happy with the result and it shows the standard in South Africa is improving.

"Well, done to Tayla. She did so well and I'm proud of her."

After picking up a stress fracture in 2023, Jacobs had to undergo surgery, and she then took a break from competitive athletics to have her first child, who was born in February last year.

She returned to action late last season, and Jacobs was delighted to prove she was back to her best.

"I'm happy to be back on the podium here with a new personal best. It shows that I'm moving in the right direction," Jacobs said.

"I still have big plans for the rest of the year, but Spar is always a fun event to be part of, so it's great to be back racing with the girls."

With Karabo More also setting a personal best of 32:34 in fourth position, Violet Semenya said she was pleased to see women runners in SA continuing to raise the standard.

"They are definitely on the right path, following in the steps of Glenrose (Xaba), and the athletes just need to believe in themselves," said Semenya, who coaches Xaba and More alongside her wife and coaching partner Caster Semenya.

"And it's not only up to them. If I as a coach don't believe in my athletes, they can't believe in themselves, buy it's good to see the athletes showing that confidence they need and improving."

Olympian, Caster Semenya also competed in Sunday’s 10km race finishing a credible 12th place in 35.44. “I came to Cape Town to give my team support and decided to race as well. I am a big fan of the SPAR Grand Prix series. Firstly, it’s a women’s only series which us women love and secondly the series has contributed so much to the promotion and development of women’s road running in all age groups in the country. My charges, Glenrose Xaba, Karabo More and Karabo Mailula all must give credit to the SPAR Grand Prix series for their success.”

Following the race, one lucky winner from the 18 000 entries was drawn to win a Hyundai Exter valued at R270 000. The winner was Melanie Raaf of Hawston, Hermanus a first-time participant in the Cape Town SPAR Women’s Challenge.

RESULTS OF THE SPAR GRAND PRIX WOMEN'S 10KM RACE HELD IN CAPE TOWN.

Open

1 Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood) 31:33

2 Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) 31:38

3 Kyla Jacobs (Boxer) 32:16

4 Karabo More (Boxer) 32:34

5 Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer) 32:42

6 Karabo Mailula (Tuks) 33:28

7 Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood) 33:43

8 Zanthe Taljaard (Boxer) 34:23

9 Carina Swiegers (Boxer) 34:47

10 Elizabeth Hutamo (Boxer) 35:09