Athletics
Kalmer cruises to victory
2012-04-15 12:55
Cape Town - Defending champion Rene Kalmer (Nedbank CGA) cruised to victory in the Spar Women's 10 km Challenge at the Greenpoint Stadium on Sunday morning.
Running in cool, overcast weather, Kalmer finished in 32.50, five seconds ahead of Nedbank AGN's Rutendo Nyahora. Irvette van Blerk (Nedbank CGA) was third in 33.32.
Kalmer went into the lead from the start, and was in command throughout the race, although Nyahora was always close behind her.
"Rutendo pushed me hard," Kalmer said.
"That was good, because I wanted to get the speed."
"I was feeling good and I had a good run, although about seven kilometres was on cobblestones, and that was very uncomfortable underfoot."
Kalmer said she did not feel any ill-effects from her victory in the 5000m at the South African championships in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
"That was two days ago," she laughed. "I've recovered from that."
"I'm very happy with my win today it is a good start to the Spar Grand Prix series. I had to make a lot of sacrifices last year in my efforts to qualify for the Olympic Games this year, but now that I have qualified, I can focus more on the Grand Prix. I'm planning to run all five races the prize of a motor car is a great motivator."
She said her victory on Sunday was a good confidence booster ahead of the London Marathon next Sunday, where she will be running as a pace maker for British athletes trying to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Nyahora said she was pleased with her effort, but was determined to beat Kalmer next time round.
"I've been training hard for this race, and I ran a faster time than last year," she said.
"I liked the route, which was quite flat, although it was a bit windy at times. I was pleased to be so close to Rene, and I am going to try to beat her in Port Elizabeth."
Van Blerk, who is the defending Grand Prix Champion, was not happy with her run.
"I've got a lot of mileage in my legs and I could feel them all," she said.
"I just couldn't get going and my legs felt very heavy.
"The race was quite flat, and there was a lot of running on and off sidewalks. The cobbles didn't help either."
Van Blerk will also be running the London Marathon next Sunday in an attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games.
"I hope this run will help me next week.
"It's always good to get some speed under your belt ahead of a long race."
Results of the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge run at Greenpoint on Sunday
Senior: 1 Rene Kalmer (Nedbank CGA), 32.50; 2 Rutendo Nyahora (Nedbank AGN) 32.55; 3. Irvette van Blerk (Nedbank CGA) 33.32; 4 Zintle Xiniwe (Nedbank WP) 34.22; 5 Portia Ngwenya (Transnet) 34.53; 6 Nolene Conrad (UJ) 34.56; 7 Lebogang Phalula (Gauteng Striders), 35.08; 8 Maxine Heine-Wacker (UJ) 35.11; 9 Nomvuyisi Set (Celtic) 35.16; 10 Nandipha Dynili (Bidvest CGA) 35.22
Master: 1 Ronel Thomas 38.08; Janene Carey 37.26; Cheryl de Lange 40.02
Grandmaster: 1 Olga Howard 42.41 2 Annatjie Botes 44.14; Cheryl Rudolph 44.31
Great Grandmaster: 1 Sonja Laxton 43.08; 2 Veronica van Niekerk ; Marietha Herbert 49.32
Junior: 1 Pamela Mtshemla 38.08; 2 Annie Bothma 38.13; Amy Abrahams 39.21