SUNDAY, 28 JUNE 2026
KAVANAGH TRIUMPHS IN DURBAN TO EXTEND SPAR GRAND PRIX SERIES LEAD
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Tayla Kavanagh continued to deliver in what has been a breakthrough season, extending her lead in the SPAR Grand Prix Series with a hard-fought victory at the second leg in Durban on Sunday.
Kavanagh, representing Hollywood Athletics Club, pushed the pace from the start of the women’s 10km race, shaking off most of the field within the first few kilometres, with only Ethiopian athlete Selam Gebre (Nedbank Running Club) able to hang on.
Gebre lost touch with around 500 metres to go, approaching the finish at King’s Park, and Kavanagh broke clear to win in 31:32, just six seconds outside her personal best.
“I had very strong competition from Selam today, and I think we really produced a good race out there. We challenged each other a lot and really kept each other going, and I enjoyed the competition,” said Kavanagh, who also won the first leg of the SPAR Grand Prix Series in Cape Town in March.
“I put together a good race and I’m really happy with the consistency I’ve been able to produce over my last couple of 10km races, so I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead for the rest of the season, and I’m just very grateful to be feeling healthy and strong at the moment.”
Despite fading in the closing stages after Kavanagh put in a big surge, Gebre held on to take the runner-up spot in 31:45.
After missing the opening race of the series in Cape Town, due to visa issues, Gebre picked up valuable points in the SPAR Grand Prix campaign.
“Tayla led for most of the race, and technically and physically I was not good today, but I admire how Tayla won the race. She deserved the win,” Gebre said.
Lesotho national record holder Neheng Khatala (Hollywood) rounded off the podium by taking third place in 32:09, proving she had recovered well after taking eighth place at the Two Oceans ultra-marathon in Cape Town in April.
“Since I came back from the ultra-marathon my training has been going very well, and my plan was to run sub-33 today, so I think I did well,” Khatala said.
Behind her, producing another impressive result after winning the SA half-marathon title in Gqeberha the day before, Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer Athletics Club) dug deep to finish fourth in 32:16.
Her Boxer teammate Karabo More, who earned the national mile title at the SA Road Running Championships in Gqeberha, ended fifth in 32:44.
There was a sellout entry of 13 355 athletes.
One lucky participant, Veloshni Naidoo of Phoenix was as the lucky winner of a brand-new Hyundai EXTER vehicle, valued at R269 900.00 following the race.
Ends.
SPAR GRAND PRIX 10KM RESULTS – DURBAN
Results of the Durban leg of the SPAR Grand Prix Series on Sunday, 28 June 2026.
Open: 1 Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood) 31:32, 2 Selam Gebre (Nedbank) 31:45, 3 Neheng Khatala (Hollywood) 32:09, 4 Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer) 32:16, 5 Karabo More (Boxer) 32:44, 6 Zanthe Taljaard (Boxer) 34:11, 7 Olga Firsova (N/A) 34:23, 8 Ntsoaki Molahloe (N/A) 34:35, 9 Karabo Mailula (Boxer) 34:52, 10 Loveness Madziva (Nedbank) 35:11
U20: 1 Leah Edwards (Tuks) 37:40, 2 Chanel Groenewald (Boxer) 37:45, 3 Alexis Hewitt (DERT) 38:38
40-49: 1 Olga Firsova (N/A) 34:23, 2 Makhosazane Mhlongo (N/A) 37:22, 3 Janie Grundling (Peak Performance) 37:34
50-59: 1 Tanith Maxwell (N/A) 39:51, 2 Janene Carey (Boxer) 40:43, 3 Maya Lawrie (Boxer) 43:24
60-69: 1 Judy Bird (Boxer) 41:57, 2 Dalene Sonnekus (Nedbank) 43:55, 3 Ezna Flattery (Nedbank) 45:01
70+: 1 Blanche Moila (N/A) 55:51, 2 Pat Fisher (Stella) 59:05, 3 Johanna Taljaard (Amanzimtoti) 1:12:50
Ends.
2026 SPAR Grand Prix Durban google information hub link: https://shorturl.at/flzTt
FREE TO USE PICTURES WITH CAPTIONS
Athletes Start: Top women road runners from South Africa and Africa start the 10km 2026 SPAR Grand Prix Durban on Sunday, 28 June 2026 at Kings Park Stadium in Durban. Picture Credit:
Athletes: The lead athletes at the 5km mark of the 2026 SPAR Grand Prix Durban were Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) and Ethiopian Selam Gebre (Nedbank). The 10km race run in Durban on Sunday, 28 June 2026 at Kings Park Stadium was won by Kavanagh in 31:32 minutes.
Tayla Kavanagh1: Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) ran a superb race in her hometown to win the 10km SPAR Grand Prix Durban 28 June 2026 at Kings Park Stadium on Sunday morning 28 June 2026. Kavanagh won the race in 31:32 minutes with Ethiopian Selam Gebre (Nedbank) second.
Top 3 Finishers: The top three finishers of the 2026 10km SPAR Grand Prix Durban held on Sunday, 28 June 2026 at Kinds Park Stadium are from left 2nd Ethiopian Salem Gebre (Nedbank), 1st Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) and Naheng Khatala (Hollywood AC) of Lesotho 3rd.
Tayla Kavanagh2: Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) wins the 10km SPAR Grand Prix Durban 28 June 2026 at Kings Park Stadium on Sunday morning 28 June 2026. Kavanagh won the race in 31:32 minutes. This was the second SPAR Grand Prix triumph this season after winning the season opener in Cape Town in March.
Hyundai winner: The lucky winner of a brand-new Hyundai EXTER vehicle at the SPAR Women’s Challenge Durban held on Sunday morning 28 June 2026 at Kings Park Stadium was Veloshni Naidoo of Phoenix. Veloshni pictured with Shane De Jager, Hyundai Durban Dealer Principle was drawn from 13 355 race participants.
Photo credits: Darren Stewart Gallo Images
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