This morning’s victory in the Cape Town leg of the 2022 SPAR Women’s Grand Prix Series by Tadu Nare, a result that was never in doubt, solidified her victory in the series.
After finishing second to Namibia’s Helalia Johannes in the inaugural event in Port Elizabeth, this was the Ethiopian’s fifth consecutive victory in the six-race series.
Her victories in Durban, Mbombela, Tshwane, and Johannesburg gave her the advantage entering this morning’s race, and only her colleague Salem Gabre had a remote chance of unseating her.
Even then, it would have required an awful failure by Nare for Gabre, who ran her first marathon last weekend in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, to reverse the tables.
On a cool morning in the Mother City, the race began similarly to the previous ones, with Nare, Gabre, and Johannes quickly separating themselves from the local competitors.
At the halfway point, despite the efforts of Glenrose Xaba, Kesa Molotsane, Cacisile Sosibo, Irvette Van Zyl, and Kula Jacobs, the forwigb internationals held a commanding five-second advantage.
The trio then battled for the lead on the course’s quick, flat terrain.
The past races demonstrated that Nare breaks away in the final two kilometers, and she did it again to win in 31:53.
Gabre, her compatriot, placed second in 32:18. Johannes finishing third-to-last, three seconds behind her.
As Murray & Roberts teammates Molotsane and Jacobs came into the Greenpoint Athletics Stadium in a neck-and-neck race to become the first South African home, the audience was ecstatic.
Molotsane was in the lead, but Jacobs appeared to be gaining on her, until the lanky athlete appeared to gain a second wind in the final straight.
In 33:15, she finished one second ahead of Jacobs.
Molotsane finished fourth in the entire Grand Prix, earning him the title of the first South African to compete in the Serie A.
Cacisile Sosibo was ranked fifth.
After the race, Naru emphasized her happiness at her victory and her intention to return the next year if her schedule permits.
Winner of the Series.
“I am quite pleased with the result because I won. However, I was not able to complete the race in less than 31 minutes, as planned.”
Nare stated that she would have liked to improve upon the marks she set in each of the events she won last year.
“It is my intention to surpass the records I achieved the previous year and to further develop. This did not occur, but I am pleased to have successfully defended the title. Next year I would want to return, but it depends depend on my schedule.”
Given her “difficult season,” Molotsane was naturally ecstatic with her place as the best South African in the Series.
“I am pleased and pleased with what I have accomplished this season.”