International runners – are they welcome

The criticism of international runners competing in, and dominating, local races is unfounded.

So said Kesa Molotsane and Irvette van Zyl, local runners who finished second and third respectively at the Joburg leg of the SPAR Grand Prix series, at Marks Park Sports Club.

The six-race series has seen Ethiopian runner Tadu Nare (20) win all of the first five events, and she is expected to win the last race in Gqeberha on October 9.

The Grand Prix was also won by Namibia’s Helalia Johannes in 2019.

In between each race, Nare has had to return to Ethiopia, and then fly back for the next race, as the visa she can acquire only lasts for five days at a time. So she flies four and a half hours twice, every odd weekend.

But Nare and others are glad the SPAR Grand Prix opened its doors to international runners, as they can compete in different conditions and experience South African culture. The prize money is also good, of course.

Some in the running community have called this unfair, as local runners are no longer receiving all the prize money in races, which they used to even when a visiting international runner beat them. “I for one appreciate international runners because they help South African runners push themselves,” Molotsane said after congratulating Nare on the win.

Van Zyl agreed, saying allowing international runners to not only compete but win prize money has improved the record times at races nationwide. “Times are getting faster each year, which will only benefit us. Cash is the only problem because they take all the money,” Van Zyl joked. “But we are getting better because of it, which is what every runner wants.”