Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day have come and gone, and the thoughts of many are turning to the road – not driving, but road running.
The SPAR Grand Prix series gets underway on March 30, when thousands of women will take to the streets of Cape Town for the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge and 5km fun run.
The Cape Town race is the first of the five races making up the SPAR Grand Prix series, in which Africa’s elite and experienced runners compete for valuable points.
The winner of the SPAR Grand Prix will take home R200 000. The runner-up will receive R100 000, and the third placed athlete will win R75 000. This is additional to the substantial prize money for each individual race.
The local woman with the most SPAR Grand Prix points will receive an additional R100 000, the second placed South African R70 000 and the third placed South African R50 000.
Junior runners will once again be eligible for an overall prize, with the results of three races counting. The top junior will win overall prize money of R10 000.
As part of an exciting development for this year’s SPAR GRAND Prix series, the SPAR Group is pleased to announce Hyundai Automotive South Africa as the new national vehicle sponsor of the series.
“Women empowerment is an integral part of Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s business philosophy and has been central to our growth and success,” stated Gideon Jansen van Rensburg, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.
As well as the substantial prize money on offer, Hyundai is giving away five Hyundai Exter vehicles, each valued at R269 900 at the five SPAR Women’s Challenge races taking place this year. The winner of the Hyundai vehicle must be over 18 and hold a valid driver’s licence.
In 2024, Glenrose Xaba became the first South African to win the award since it was opened to international runners in 2019.
Xaba, who won the title in 2018, when it was limited to domestic runners, is hoping to become the fourth person, after Rene Kalmer, Irvette van Zyl and Ethiopian Tadu Nare, to win the prestigious title three times.
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“Winning the SPAR Grand Prix has been a dream and a goal that I’ve had for many years. To have won it twice is a career highlight for sure. To be referred to as a defending champion is surreal.
“This year, I aim to remain injury free and have a healthy season. I look forward to running the SPAR Grand Prix series again and fighting for that top spot,” she said
SPAR national PR, communications and sponsorship manager, Mpudi Maubane, said the group was thrilled to launch the series and is looking forward to a year filled with fun activities and growth of our athletes.
“Each race is linked to SPAR’s ongoing commitment to ending GBV as well as SPAR’s campaign to End Period Poverty by 2030, raising awareness and providing crucial support to organisations working to combat these prevalent issues.
“This multifaceted approach ensures that the SPAR Women’s Challenges not only promote physical wellbeing but also contribute to a safer and more equitable society for women in South Africa” said Maubane.
Entries for the five SPAR Women’s Challenges are open at www.spar.run. The other races are in Durban on June 22, Tshwane on August 2, Gqeberha on September 27, and Johannesburg on October 5.
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