Contenders looking to upset Mapaseka in Spar Women’s 10km final

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The sixth and final race of the 2013 Spar Women’s 10km Challenge series is said to be the most hotly contested this year.

While Nedbank runners are likely to dominate on Sunday 13 October, Transnet’s Mapaseka Makhanya has been in sublime form in recent weeks. She won the Durban and Pretoria Challenge races and has her eyes set firmly on victory. With a lead of 29 points over her nearest rival (Irvette van Zyl), Mapaseka virtually is assured of winning the Challenge Grand Prix title and picking up the keys to a brand-new Nissan Micra.

Despite the favorite already pointed out, there is the belief among the other contenders that they can cause an upset.

Ethiopian runners Yeshimebet Tadesse Bifa and Alemtsehay Hailu Kakissa, running for the Nedbank Green Dream Team, are two of nine athletes who will add some excitement to the race. Yeshimebet has a best time of 31 minutes for 10km, and will be hard to beat.

Another international competitor is Zimbabwean Rutendo Nyahora who won the City2City 10km last month. Rutendo also won the Cape Town and Port Elizabeth legs of the Challenge series.

South Africa’s top local runners who also will be battling it out for top honors are René Kalmer and Irvette. René has won more challenge races than any other athlete and appears to be back to top form as she won the South African 21km title in East London two weeks ago.

Irvette on the other hand is fresh from victory in the PetroSA half marathon in Mossel Bay at the end of September, and she appears to have gotten over the injury problems that have been troubling her.

Although there is a slight chance for Irvette to catch her on the standings, the bubbly single mother Mapaseka remains confident.

“I’m very excited about the thought of winning a motor car. That is an awesome thought.

“I know there is a remote chance that Irvette can overtake me, but I’ll be going all out to win the Joburg race to make sure that car is mine.”