There’s a new name at the top of the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard after the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in Tshwane at the weekend.
Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer) has shot to the top, proving the importance of consistency in the chase for the lucrative SPAR Grand Prix title. She finished fifth in Cape Town and fourth in Durban and Tshwane, with maximum bonus points in each race, for a total of 80 points.
Hollywood runner Tayla Kavanagh, who won the Cape Town and Durban races, has 60 points, with maximum bonus points in each race. Kavanagh missed the Tshwane race because she was representing South Africa at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Defending champion Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) is in third position with 59 points, after finishing second in Cape Town and winning the Tshwane race. Ethiopian runner Selam Gebre (Nedbank) is close behind her on 58 points and Kyla Jacobs has 56. Two Boxer athletes, Karabo Mailula and Karabo More, are in joint sixth position, with 53 points.
This means the race for top honours is too close to call, and the outcome will be known only after the Jozi race in October. Kavanagh is not a fan of running at altitude but if she does well in Gqeberha, may decide to run in Johannesburg to secure victory.
In the Junior Category Chanel Groenewald (Boxer AC) leads with 11 points after 3 races. She is followed by Mpho Katiso (TUT AC) with 10 points, the only Junior to have secured bonus points in the series. Taya Pelser (Boxer AC) and Leah Edwards (TUKS AC) are just behind with 5 points each. Like the open category, nothing is decided yet and it is too early to make a call.
The 40-49 Category has Este van Tonder (Nedbank RC) and Olga Firsova in the lead with 10 points each followed by Makhosazane Mhlongo (Hollywood AC) with 7 points. With 2 races each van Tonder and Mhlongo are the two to watch.
Tanith Maxwell (Boxer AC) with 19 points has a good lead in the 50-59 Category, but Janene Carey (Boxer AC) with 15 points has 3 races under her belt. They are followed closely by Nerida Lubbe (Nedbank RC) with 11 points and Charne Bosman (TUKS AC) and Elizabeth Potter (Boxer AC) both with 10 points.
Judy Bird (Boxer AC) is once again in the lead in the 60 plus category with 30 points, needing a single win with bonus points to secure the series. She is followed by Dalene Sonnekus (Nedbank RC) with 26 points.
The total prize money for the SPAR Grand Prix has been increased to a whopping R1 967 500. The overall winner of the SPAR Grand Prix will take home R210 000, the second-placed runner R105 000 and the third placed runner will receive R80 000. Prize money for the age categories has also been increased, with the overall winner receiving R11 000 and the runner-up R8 000.
In addition, there are incentives for the top five South African runners, with the top South African receiving R110 000, and the second R75 000. The fifth placed South African will take home R21 000. This is in addition to the money they win in the main competition.