ATHLETICS MEDIA RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, 01 JULY 2026
TAYLA KAVANAGH TOPS SPAR GRAND PRIX LOG
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Tayla Kavanagh’s victory in the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in Durban on Sunday has put her firmly in the lead on the 2026 SPAR Grand Prix log. With maximum bonus points in the first two races this year, Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) has a total of 60 points.
Karabo More and her Boxer teammate Cacisile Sosibo are in joint second position, with 53 points each. More finished fourth in Cape Town in April and fifth in Durban, while Sosibo was fifth in Cape Town and fourth in Durban. Karabo Mailula is in fourth position with 32 points. Defending champion Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) and Nedbank’s Ethiopian runner Selam Gebre have 29 points each. Xaba missed Sunday’s race because of running commitments in the United States and Gebre missed the first race because of visa problems.
Five runners – Kavanagh, More, Sosibo, Gebre and Neheng Khatala (Hollywood AC) – finished with maximum bonus points on Sunday, but Gebre and Khatala did not run in the first race in Cape Town.
SPAR Grand Prix technical manager Brad Glasspoole pointed out that while Kavanagh appears to be the favourite to win this year’s title, it might not be so simple.
“Tayla seems likely to win in Gqeberha, if she doesn’t have a conflicting event, the jury is still out on whether she will run at altitude in Tshwane and Johannesburg,” said Glasspoole.
That leaves Karabo More and Cacisile Sosibo on 53 points each, but if Glenrose Xaba Selam Gebre, Kyla Jacobs (BOXER), Neheng Khatala or Carina Swiegers (BOXER) feature well at the next three events they are also on track for a win.”
A runner’s four best performances are used to determine the final winner, which means they can miss one race and still win the SPAR Grand Prix title.
Three times winner Xaba is hoping to become the first to win the coveted SPAR Grand Prix title four times.
Two runners, Boxer’s Chanel Groenewald – last year’s winner – and Leah Edwards (Tuks) are neck and neck in the race for the junior title. Each need two more wins to secure the title.
In the 40-49 Category Olga Firsova (Australia) secured five bonus points in Durban pushing her to the top of the log. Este van Tonder (Nedbank), Elme Middlemost (Nedbankj and Makhosazane Mhlongo (Hollywood AC) are also still in the running.
The 50-59 Category has some serious competition between Nerida Lubbe (Nedbank) and three Boxer runners: Durban winner Tanith Maxwell, 2025 series winner Elizabeth Potter and leading points scorer, Janene Carey.
2025 series winner, Judy Bird (BOXER) is again leading the race in the 60+ Category.
The next 10km SPAR Grand Prix race is in Tshwane on August 1, with the two remaining season races in Gqeberha on September 26 and Johannesburg on October 4.
Ends.
2026 DURBAN SPAR GRAND PRIX GOOGLE DRIVE INFORMATION HUB LINK: HTTPS://SHORTURL.AT/FLZTT
FREE TO USE PICTURES WITH CAPTIONS
Cacisile Sosibo: Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer AC) lies joint second with teammate Karabo More behind frontrunner Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) on the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard after two season races run in Cape Town and Durban. The next SPAR Grand Prix 10km race will be held on Saturday 1 August 2026 in Tshwane at SuperSport Park.
Karabo More: Karabo More (Boxer AC) lies joint second with teammate Cacisile Sosibo, 7 points behind frontrunner Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) on the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard after two season races run in Cape Town and Durban. The next SPAR Grand Prix 10km race will be held on Saturday 1 August 2026 in Tshwane at SuperSport Park.
Tayla Kavanagh action: Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) winner of the opening two 10km SPAR Grand Prix season races in Cape Town and Durban heads the Grand Prix leaderboard with a full house of 60 points, 7 points clear of second placed Karabo More (Boxer AC). The next SPAR Grand Prix 10km race will be held on Saturday 1 August 2026 in Tshwane at SuperSport Park.
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