Athletics
Kalmer targets clean-sweep
2012-08-27 15:19
Johannesburg - South African distance runner Rene Kalmer hopes to secure a clean-sweep in the Spar Women's Challenge, despite wrapping up the series victory at the weekend.
Kalmer won the fourth of five legs in the 10km series in Pretoria on Saturday, crossing the line in 34 minutes, 50 seconds (34:50).
Having won all the races thus far, the two-time Olympian has already secured the prize, a new car, for finishing top of the Grand Prix standings.
"I'm thrilled to have won the Grand Prix again, but I am determined to win the last race in Johannesburg on October 14," Kalmer said.
"No-one has ever won all five races, so I still have a lot to do in Johannesburg."
While Kalmer has the title sewn up, after bagging 110 points in the first four events, the race for second and third place is wide open.
Portia Ngwenya, on 56 points, leads the chase, with Kalmer's younger sister, Christine, lying third overall on 55 points.
Defending champion Irvette van Blerk is in fourth place, with 54 points, after she was forced to withdraw from the Pretoria leg with an Achilles injury.