{"id":20621,"date":"2013-06-24T22:56:41","date_gmt":"2013-06-24T20:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/track-runner-becomes-queen-of-the-road\/"},"modified":"2013-06-24T22:56:41","modified_gmt":"2013-06-24T20:56:41","slug":"track-runner-becomes-queen-of-the-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/track-runner-becomes-queen-of-the-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Track runner becomes queen of the road"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t \"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The top 3 finishers (L-R) Rutendo Nyahora (2nd), Mapaseka Makhanya (Winner) and the 3rd placed Christine Kalmer in the SPAR Women\u2019s Challenge run in Durban on Sunday, 23 June 2013. Photo: Reg Caldecott<\/p>\n

Transnet\u2019s Mapaseka Makhanya, better known as a track runner, cruised to victory in the SPAR Women\u2019s Challenge in Durban on Sunday in a time of 32.49 minutes.<\/p>\n

Rutendo Nyahora (Nedbank CGA), who won the Cape Town and Port Elizabeth<\/a> races, finished second, in 33.55, followed by Christine Kalmer (Nedbank CGA), who crossed the line in 34.13. Kalmer\u2019s sister, Rene, finished fourth, 24 seconds after her younger sister.<\/p>\n

Sixteen-thousand 309 runners entered the 24th edition of the oldest Challenge race and the 5km Fun Run.<\/p>\n

A young, unidentified runner stormed into the lead at the start, but she was soon overtaken by the established runners, who ran in a bunch for the first five kilometres.<\/p>\n

Makhanya broke away at that stage, and gradually extended her lead. \u201cI was feeling good, so I decided to go for it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t come here with any definite plan in mind, I just decided to run my own race. I don\u2019t put any pressure of expectations on myself, I just want to run the best race I can.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very happy to have won, but my heart is still very much with track running. I like road running, but I still have big ambitions on the track.\u201d<\/p>\n

Makhanya, the South African 1500 and 5000m champion, said her next big outing was a 5000m race in Europe.<\/p>\n

Nyahora praised Makhanya, saying she had run a very good race. \u201cI think her track running gives her a lot of speed. I am pleased with my performance today, because I ran the best race I could.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kalmer, who led the race for a brief period, said her third place was her best finish in a Challenge race. \u201cI am absolutely delighted to have come third.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a bit surprised when I found myself in the lead \u2013 I usually let the others go ahead and then see where I can fit in, so this was a bit unusual for me. But then Mapaseka and Rutendo overtook me, and that was that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rene Kalmer<\/a> said this was her first race since the Boston Marathon<\/a>, where she picked up an Achilles\u2019 tendon injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a fantastic year last year, with the Olympic Games and a lot of other good results, and I think my body is telling me to have a bit of a break. I was pleased with my fourth position, but I am so proud of Christine coming third. She works fulltime, so coming third is a huge achievement for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maakhyana\u2019s victory puts her in pole position on the SPAR Grand Prix table. The winner of the Grand Prix will receive a Nissan Micra car, and the runner-up will take home R30 000.<\/p>\n

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