Johannesburg`s
richest road race, the Blue IQ Joburg City Challenge on Sunday, 20 July
not only boasts the finest field ever assembled over the 21,1km distance
but also includes a street mile for leading South African track athletes
and young up-and-coming track athletes, providing an opportunity for these
budding stars to display their talents on the national stage.
The
women`s field also has several names in it which bear taking notice of.
Christine Kalmer who has put together a fine season already thus far, will
be trading surges with South African 1500m champion Nicolene van Rooyen
and 800m athlete (2:06,75 best) Mari-Louise Henning. There are also
several up and coming young athletes in the line up including Priscilla
Dim (14) from Eldorado Park, Recinda Hanekom (15) from Sundra and 16 year
old Rochelle Moses who has won several national schools titles.
The
street mile is structured as a winner-take-all event with the winning man
and woman each going home with a fabulous R10 000 in prize money. In
addition the winners will each receive genuine platinum medals courtesy of
Anglo Platinum. An Anglo Platinum spokesperson said, "Awarding
a platinum medal is in line with our vision summarised as `lasting
platinum prosperity` which in a way is a symbol of hope for this country.
This is mainly because we appreciate the invaluable contribution made by
Nelson Mandela in forging unity among all our people and the continued
excellence shown by our sportsmen and women who will be entering the
celebrity street mile".
Pradeep
Maharaj, Blue IQ CEO, said "The
street mile, which has been planned as a spectator race to round off the
day`s festivities, is a truly unique event and we thought it fitting that
we rewarded the winners in a truly distinctive fashion. Genuine platinum
medals are rare in road running and we appreciate the efforts of Anglo
Platinum to make this a really memorable occasion".
The
street mile is just one of five events which make up Blue IQ`s festival of
running, the Blue IQ Joburg City Challenge. The events mark the official
opening of the spectacular Nelson Mandela Bridge which links Braamfontein
with Newtown in the inner city. Nelson Mandela will be opening the bridge
at a ceremony prior to the start of the race as well as setting the
runners off on their journey past some of the biggest attractions in
Johannesburg, such as the Civic Theatre, the Old Fort Prison, Blue IQ`s
Constitution Hill development, the Indian Market and the Mary Fitzgerald
Square.
A
spokesperson for the Blue IQ Joburg City Challenge said: "We
have been astounded by the response we`ve had to this event. It has
exceeded our expectations as far as interest from top local and
international athletes in the street mile and the half marathon is
concerned. To top that, entries have been streaming in and the field looks
like it could very well be one of the biggest ever in South African road
running for this distance! At the moment we are receiving upwards of 500
to 800 entries per day and are working around the clock to ensure a safe
and enjoyable run through the city for all participants. Although online
entries close today, entries will be taken the day before the race on Mary
Fitzgerald Square in Newtown as well as the morning of the race from 06h00
onwards and we also expect a large surge of entries then."