The Pietermaritzburg SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge has been around for a number of years, but this is the first time it has been included in the Challenge Series, with top runners battling it out for Grand Prix points.  The other Challenge races are run in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Current log leader Kesa Moletsane had to jump through hoops to be able to take part in the race on Sunday.  Moletsane is a member of the South African team for the World Student Games in Taiwan, and had to get special permission to leave after the rest of the team, so that she could run in Pietermaritzburg.  Moletsane has a healthy 19-point lead over her nearest rival, defending champion Irvette van Zyl, but with only two races to go, she can’t afford to miss the Pietermaritzburg race.

Moletsane will leave for King Shaka Airport immediately after the race to fly to Johannesburg, from where she will leave to join the rest of the South African team in Taipei.

Grand Prix Director Ian Laxton said the route for the 10km race, which starts and ends at the Pietermaritzburg Oval, is a challenging one.

“Because the Oval is next to the river, you start uphill and end downhill,” said Laxton.

“And there are many ups and downs  in between.  The route goes winds through Pietermaritzburg, passing some of its famous old schools, like Maritzburg College, and it also passes some historic old buildings,” he said.

“It is an interesting route, but not an easy one.  It will suit Irvette van Zyl – she’s very strong on hills and she will like this course.   The Grand Prix is probably beyond her reach now – Kesa more or less has it wrapped up – but she will be going all out to prove she is the best runner.”

There will be a strong field to challenge Moletsane and Van Zyl.  Other top runners include Nolene Conrad, who finished second in Pretoria two weeks ago, Lebogang Phalula, winner of the Grand Prix in 2015 and Rutendo Nyahora, just back from representing Zimbabwe in the marathon at the World Athletics Championships in London.  Mapaseka Makhanya and Glenrose Xaba are also runners who can never be ruled out.  

The race starts in Princess Margaret Drive, outside the Oval, at 8am on Sunday.