Phalula wins in Durban

Lebogang Phalula crossed the line first in a time of 33 minutes and six seconds (33:06), three places ahead of her sister and series points leader Diana-Lebo Phalula (34:02).

“My race today was great, but I was looking forward to my sister winning the race,” Lebogang Phalula said after the race.

“I told her if she’s not going to win the race, I am going to win.

“She told me to go and leave her alone.”

Zimbabwean Rutendo Nyahora took second in 33:41 and Rene Kalmer dipped under 34 minutes to claim third in a time of 33:49 in the third race of the Grand Prix series.

Phalula began the race in a breakaway group of three led by Irvette van Zyl — and with Mapaseka Makhanya also in the pack.

Van Zyl won the Totalsports Women’s race in Stellenbosch earlier this month in 32:20 — the third fastest 10km by a South African woman.

Diana-Lebo Phalula, led at the front at the three kilometre mark, as Van Zyl fell off the pace.

“I was scared running with Irvette the first kilometres because she ran a 32:20 [time] recently, so I was panicking,” said Lebogang Phalula.

“But I told myself then to just run my own race.”

By the halfway stage, the Phalula sisters opened up a big gap on the chasers as they passed five kilometres in 15:50.

Diana-Lebo Phalula, struggling with a hamstring problem, began dropping off the lead at the 6km mark while her sister surged ahead.

After that point, Lebogang Phalula powered her way to the finish for a comfortable victory.

“I was just running against the clock. It was a nice pace today and I’d like to thank Irvette for everything,” she said.

“It was fast, but for me not that fast because I couldn’t feel any pain.

“I started to pick up at 5k, and I just managed to run hard the last part.”

– Sapa