Challenor wins big Durban race

Jenna Challenor was outright winner of the 10km Totalsports Ladies race in Durban on Sunday morning covering the fast and flat beachfront course in 34 minutes 59 seconds.

Challenor who has been injured for the last month, went out fast leading the field of over 6000 through the first kilometre in three minutes 15 seconds.

As they turned onto the new promenade at Blue Lagoon, Kenyan Peres Jepschirchir eased past the Boxer athlete and opened a telling lead, which saw her crossing the line in 34 minutes four seconds.

Unfortunately the Maxed Elite athlete was disqualified being unable to present her international permit to race in South Africa.

Challenor, who was 15 seconds adrift, went through the 5km in 16:50 but lost pace slightly on the return past the iconic Moses Mahbida Stadium to the finish at the Berea Rovers clubhouse where she just squeezed under 35 minutes to set her best time for the past three years.

The diminutive Poppy Mlambo, a multiple winner of previous Spar Ladies events, was second in 36 minutes 11 seconds and over 250 metres clear of Thabisa Sirayi who closed the podium in 37 minutes four seconds.

Further down the field there were a number of impressive performances with 71 year old Gill Tregenna finishing in position 124 in 55 minutes seven seconds, leaving many youngsters in her wake.

Previous Comrades gold medalist, Grace de Oliveira won the 50-59 age group in 42 minutes 32 seconds, while eighth placed Shani Silver, also of the Boxer club, was the fastest in the 40-49 category in 39 minutes 40 seconds.

Second placed junior Caylee Ellero was ninth overall and the last runner to break the 40-minute barrier.

Ladies:

1) Jenna Challenor Boxer 34:59.

2) Poppy Mlambo Boxer 36:11.

3) Thabisa Sirayi Lions 37:04.

4) Mthethwa Nomcebo uMhlathuze 37:53.

5) Silindile Chili Chesterville 38:45.

6) Debbie Perry Boxer 39:21.

7) Sarah King Nedbank 39:22.

8) Shani Silver Boxer 39:40.

 

Junior:

1) Silindile Chili Chesterville 38:45.

2) Caylee Ellero Bluff 39:59.

3) Sthembile Radebe Shongweni 40:26.

4) Kelly Fletcher IND 40:45.

5) Lisha van Onselen Toti 41:46.

6) Nondumiso Khoza Ntun 45:15.

7) Storm Alexander Toti 45:22.

 

40-49:

1) Shani Silver Boxer 39:40.

2) Maureen Slack Westville 43:03.

3) Jenny Tyers Westville 45:54.

 

50-59

1) Grace de Oliveira Boxer 42:32,

2) Janine Engels PDAC 44:32,

3) Blanche Moila Savages 46:29

 

60-69

1) Sandy Fismer Hilton 48:11.

2) Pat Fisher Stella 51:58.

3) Aletta Englenbrecht 1:00:53.

 

70+

1) Gill Tregenna Westville 55:07.

2) Hester Bekker Stella 1:09:21.

3) Elizabeth Howard Davies Athletic North 1:22:27.

 

(File photo: Gallo Images)

- Norrie Williamson

Twitter - @ECRSportswave