Setting a remarkable benchmark, Tayla Kavanagh has won the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge for a third time in a row, dominating a one-woman race to defend her title ahead of Florence Nyaingiri and Likeleli Majara in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday, 17 August.
Kavanagh ran a fairly solitary 10km in Pietermaritzburg, and the Highway athlete running in the colours of Hollywood Athletics Club crossed the line in an impressive time of 32.55, shaving off 77 seconds off her previous best winning time, and bettering her 2023 time, which was 34.07.
‘It was a lovely morning out on the streets of PMB, I always thoroughly enjoy participating in the SPAR Women’s 10km leg here in Pietermaritzburg. I had a pleasant race and I’m really happy with how it went. The weather was warmer than it had been in the past few weeks, but it was still favourable conditions to run in.’
‘I was hoping to run a solid effort this morning. I didn’t have a specific time in mind, but I just wanted to execute a good race. I do some of my training in Maritzburg, so this race always feels like a home race for me! I also really relish the challenging hilly route and the community of women who come together to run this race.
This year, Kavanagh broke away from the pack early in the race, slowly stretching her lead from second-placed Kenyan runner, Florence Nyaingiri, who finished two and a half minutes behind Kavanagh, in 35.25.
‘We set off the race with a few of us running pretty strong together at the start, at around 2km’s is where the first inclines began and I know I really enjoy the hills and climbs so I would say just after the 2km marker I decided I would take the lead.’
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Going through the 4.5km mark, a focused Kavanagh led by 45 seconds, clocking a time of 15.12 while Nyaingiri went through the checkpoint in a time of 15.57.
The 24-year-old Durbanite is enjoying a phenomenal year: she won the KZN Athletics Female Road Runner of the Year the night before; she achieved her personal best at the recent Durban’s Totalsports Women’s Race run where she dipped under 32 minutes, and she finished fifth overall at the Durban SPAR Women’s Challenge with a 32.32 in June.
‘I ran my PB at the Totalsports race in Durban in a time of 31:53. I have been dipping under 33 minutes numerous times over the last few years and only recently just ran under 32 minutes once so far. I look forward to racing my club’s race at the end of August, in the HollywoodBets Durban 10km.’
Running in her first-ever Maritzburg race, the visiting Kenyan athlete mentioned she truly enjoyed the experience. Based in Iten, an area renowned for its altitude training, Nyaingiri said, ‘It was a tough route and being so hot didn’t help, but I had a fantastic time running here and can’t wait to return next year to challenge for the top spot.’
In third place was Likeleli Majara, running for Nedbank ByGrace Running Club in Bloemfontein, in a time of 36:01.
A total of 3,696 participants took to the course around Alexandra Park and the CBD in this Challenge, one of eight hosted by SPAR around the country, and the sixth sold-out race in the overall SPAR Challenge series. Two more events are still to take place in Gqerberha and Johannesburg.
At the prize giving, SPAR KZN gifted the race charity, the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa – Choc House Maritzburg, with a cheque to the value of R25,000. R5 from each entry was donated to charity.
Leading Results at the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge on Sunday, 17 August
1. Tayla Kavanagh 32.55
2. Florence Nyaingiri 35.25
3. Likeleli Majara 36.01
4. Bathobile Mkhize 36.41
5. Malineo Mahloko 37.11
6. Janie Grundling 37.38
7. Makhosi Mhlongo 38.24
8. Luzaan de Wit 39.00
9. Leah Edwards 41.49
10. Janene Carey 42.07
Junior
1. Leah Edwards 41.49
2. Courtney van Wyngaard 43.16
3. Hannah Sewlal 48.03
Senior
1. Tayla Kavanagh 32.55
2. Florence Nyaingiri 35.25
3. Likeleli Majara 36.01
40 – 49
1. Janie Grundling 37.38
2. Makhosi Mhlongo 38.24
3. Mabusi Makhunga 42.36
50 – 59
1. Janene Carey 42.07
2. Shani Silver 42.15
3. Tholakele Ngcobo 50.18
60 -69
1. Grace de Oliviera 46.51
2. Phillipa Lycett 01:05.39
3. Kathy Baxter 01:07.24
70 – 79
1. Patricia Fisher 57.07
2. Thandiwe Mashimane 01:04.37
3. Jeanette Eglington 01:08.15
Original Copy: Elf Works / Publicity Matters, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Defending champ Tayla Kavanagh dominated the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge, the Highway athlete running in the colours of Hollywood Athletics Club crossing the line in a time of 32.55 on Sunday, 17 August. All Photos: Rogan Ward
Photo 2 Caption: The elite runners pictured leading the pack of 3696 participants on the scenic Pietermaritzburg route on Sunday.
Photo 3 Caption: The Maritzburg podium finishers (From left) Likeleli Majara (Bronze); Tayla Kavanagh (2025 Champion); and Florence Nyaingiri (Silver)
