Rene Kalmer ran gun to tape in winning the inaugural Durban Totalsports Ladies Race in an impressive 33 Minutes 28 seconds
Although a minute off her personal best of 32:27 set in Stellenbosch in 2009, the 30 year old, who is in peak training for the World Championships marathon was pleased with the performance.
“ It was a good run. I did a 37km training run on Friday so Im please with how my legs felt today,” said the Nedbank athlete who will join Boxer’s Tanith Maxwell and Annerien van Schalkwyk in South Africa’s first women’s marathon team this century.
After an opening kilometre of exactly three minutes, Kalmer settled back to knock out a 3:20 pace going through 5km in 16 minutes 28 seconds.
“ It was quite windy on the way back to the stadium which had an effect. But I’m happy and am running injury free,” continued Johannesburg based Kalmer who will run the Stellenbosch leg of the Totalsport Series on 9 August as her final outing prior to going to Daegu Korea.
Marathon team mate Tanith Maxwell and Kalmer’s sister, Christine, were initially in Kalmer’s wake but by the second kilometre were over 20 metres adrift and Maxwell soon found herself in a lone chase.
The Boxer athlete managed to dip under the 35 minute barrier by three seconds, with the younger Kalmer completing the podium places in 36:37.
“I’m pleased with the position but I was disappointed with my time,” said Christine who was well off her best form.
Maya Lawrie, the 40-49 SA Half Marathon Champion, opened two minutes on her competition crossing the line in 37 minutes 35 seconds which gave her fifth place overall.
The fast improving Shani Silver from Kearsney Striders just failed to make the top eight, but secured second in the 40 age group. Riverside Sports club’s Maureen Slack was a distance third in 43:32.
It was a useful pay-day for Tukkies Athlete Happiness Mkhize who earned money for her eighth place overall in 38 minutes 39 seconds and an additional R1000 as the first junior home.
Over 3000 ladies completed either the 10km or 5km distance around the scenic Durban beachfront course
Results:
1 Rene Kalmer Nedbank 33:28, 2 Tanith Maxwell Boxer 34:57, 3 Christine Kalmmer Nedbank 36:38, 4 Puseletso Dladla DUT 37:29, 5 Maya Lawrie Boxer 37:35, 6 Makhosazana Mhlongo Savages 37:40, 7 Kerry Koen Nedbank 38:01, 8 Happiness Mkhize TUKS 38:39
Junior: 1 Happiness Mkhize Tuks 38:39, 2 Nontokozo Mkhize 39:51, 3 Slindile Chili 41;21, 4 Sthembile Radebe 43:08, 5 Delen du Plooy 52;19, 6 Kate Kirkwood 1:12:19
40-49 1 Maya Lawrie Boxer 37:36, 2 Shani Silver Kearnsey 39:35, 3 Maureen Slack Riverside 43;32
50-59 1 Blanche Moila Savages 46:54, 2 Zanele Nduli Westville 53:19, 3 Florence Currin 59:24
60-69 1 Aletta Engelbrecht 54:19, 2 Ivy Lottering Wings 1:08:39, 3 Ingrid Bolt KZN Masters
70-79 1 Hester Bekker Stella 1:07:10, 2 Jodi Pastorino KZN Masters 1;24;12, 3 Gloria de Klerk RWFL