Pink celebrations as thousands complete Totalsports Women’s Races around South Africa

by Stephen Granger

Totalsports Women’s Races turned on the charm in style with more than 20 000 runners taking part in the 20^th edition of the event in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban in a colourful and joyful celebration of South Africa’s Women’s Day.

Nelson Mandela gave thousands of runners his traditional send-off in perfect sunny conditions as the runners got underway opposite the beloved Madiba statue on the balcony of the old City Hall.  Most runners wore the bright pink race shirt signifying support for the event’s primary beneficiary, Pink Drive, who received a cheque of R75 000 to continue their work to fight cancer.

“What a cool event to have more than 20 000 people running in three South African cities,” said Totalsports Head of Business, Jonathan Stein, who walked the 5km race in Cape Town with his family. “It’s great to have some of the country’s elite runners taking part, but for me it’s mostly about the celebration of all women – mothers, daughters and sisters.”

While the masses stole centre-stage, the elites also played their part, with several of the country’s top performers racing for the generous prize money and the considerable ‘bragging rights’ for the year. Zimbabwe-born Retail Langa athlete, Fortunate Chidzivo, won the Cape Town leg, clocking 35 min 28 sec over the traditional challenging course through the City Centre, Woodstock and District Six. Taylor Kavanagh won on the fast Durban beach-front course in 33:11 with Glenrose Xaba taking line honours in Johannesburg in 34:36.

Given the important post-COVID focus on overcoming adversity, it was appropriate that several of the elites were running for more than just themselves. “My mom has cancer, so I decided to run for her today,” said Xaba after her win in Johannesburg. “I am thankful for the support that we received.  Winning today shows that I’ve been able to overcome difficulties after having a lot of injuries over the past two years.”

Leading Cape Town athlete, Nolene Conrad, brought more than a hundred runners who are part of the Endurocad Running Academy’s high school programmes to take part in the 5km and 10km events. Her own running journey has been under a cloud but her second place behind Chidzivo was a sign of renewal. “We lost my brother just a month ago,” said Conrad. “It’s been a struggle and I’ve hardly been able to run at all. So I was surprised that I felt quite good out there today. It was good to be part of this race again.”

Chidzivo used the race to test her form and fitness after recent illness and return from a training block in Zimbabwe, going out hard from the start. She was never challenged, going on to complete an impressive solo performance – a stepping stone to the Gun Run Half Marathon in Cape Town later in the year and hopefully the Paris Olympics next year.

“I think I am lucky at Totalsports events,” Chidzivo laughed. “I won the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon in April and now I’ve won the Totalsports Women’s Race. I am proud to take part in a Women’s Race on Women’s Day. It’s important to stay healthy and I couldn’t wait to line up with thousands of women. I am proud to cross the finish line first – it gives me confidence to keep working hard because I’m reaping the fruits.”

Conrad trailed by a minute in 36:31, but managed to turn the tables on Nedbank athlete, Anel Terblance, who had beaten her at the UCT Runners Memorial 10km in May. Terblanche was 39 seconds in arrears on this occasion to take the final podium position.

Kavanagh ran a similar pillar to post race in Durban, leaving her rivals well behind before crossing the finish line at Kings Park Stadium. “I am very happy with how the race went today,” said Kavanagh. “We ran together for the first kilometre, and then I decided to pull away. From there it just felt like a training run but I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Women’s Day than with a whole bunch of beautiful ladies running together!

“The support along the route was amazing. I absolutely loved it. This is a great initiative by Totalsports and everyone involved.” Jenna Challenor finished second in 34:44 , while Nwabisa Mjoli finished third a further 15 seconds back.

The closest contest of the day came in Johannesburg, where Olympian Irvette van Zyl proved a tough rival to Xaba.  The lead changed hands on several occasions on the tough, hilly course at Emmarentia before Xaba gained the ascendancy to win by just 6 seconds in 34:35. “I entered the Totalsports Women’s Race because it celebrates Women’s Day and because it supports PinkDrive,” Xaba said. “It means a lot to defend my title having won in 2019.” Cacisine Sosebo finished third in 35:20 ahead of the evergreen Lebo Phalula.

“The ‘gees’ in the 5km was fantastic,” concluded Stein. “I don’t think there have been many sold-out races since COVID, but we reached our cap three weeks ago.  Now we know the demand and can consider increasing next year and we’re also getting requests to extend the series into additional cities throughout South Africa.”

RESULTS

Totalsports Women’s Race 10km

Tuesday 09 August 2022

CAPE TOWN

Start: Darling Street, Cape Town CBD

Finish: Grand Parade, Cape Town CBD

1 Fortunate Chidzivo 00:35:28, 2 Nolene Conrad 00:36:31, 3 Anél Terblanche 00:37:10, 4 Yandiswa Shange 00:38:08, 5 Hayley Tonkin 00:38:12, 6 Alexa Townsend 00:39:31, 7 Nicola Wills 00:40:38, 8 Kobie Griffiths 00:40:41, 9 Nocwaka Mthetho 00:41:41, 10 Obertina Kanyongo 00:41:54

JOHANNESBURG

Start & Finish: Mark’s Park, Judith Avenue, Emmarentia, Johannesburg

1 Glenrose Xaba 00:34:36, 2 Irvette van Zyl 00:34:42, 3 Cacisine Sosebo 00:35:21, 4 Lebo Phalula 00:36:17, 5 Rutendo Nyahora 00:37:34, 6 Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli 00:38:10, 7 Ann Ashworth 00:38:30, 8 Cornelia Joubert 00:38:44, 9 Maria Shai 00:40:26, 10 Zonke Mthethwa 00:41:37

DURBAN

Start: Masabalala Yengwa Avenue

Finish: Kings Park Athletics Track

1 Tayla Kavanagh 00:33:11, 2 Jenna Challenor 00:34:45, 3 Nwabisa Mjoli 00:35:00, 4 Nontokozo Happiness 00:35:12, 5 Jenet Mbhele 36:16, 6 Andisiwe Njunguza 00:37:20, 7 Busisiwe Chamane 00:39:17, 8 Lethokuhle Letsoalo 00:40:15, 9 Shani Silver 00:40:23, 10 Sinothile Mthiyane 00:40:40