CAPE TOWN – One of the Mother City’s most iconic Women’s Day celebrations, the Totalsports Women’s Race, has attracted a record field of 12,500 runners in 2024.
On Friday, 9 August, these participants will take to the streets of Cape Town to celebrate women and support PinkDrive. Among the top contenders to watch are Christine Njoki (Kenya), Tadu Nare (Ethiopia), and Glenrose Xaba (South Africa).
After dominating the field in Durban on Sunday (4 August), during her Totalsports Women’s Race debut, Kenya’s Christine Njoki, the current SA all-comers record holder, has set her sights on a second Totalsports Women’s Race victory, this time in Cape Town.
“On Friday my target will be to run under 30 minutes, this will be the first time that I race in Cape Town and the first time that I visit Cape Town. I heard that Cape Town is a beautiful town,” said Njoki.
“I don’t worry about competition, because as an athlete you must face any challenge. That is the only way that you can win the race. My message to all the runners is to do what you enjoy and leave a remarkable mark that future generations will remember.”
Ethiopia’s Tadu Nare is in good shape and looking forward to her Totalsports Women’s Race debut.
“I entered the Cape Town event because I like to run fast, flat races. It’s wonderful that the Totalsports Women’s Race honors women as they are the cornerstones of families and communities. I also like that it’s a women’s only race as we get to push hard at the front of the race. My goal on race day is to run my best,” she said.
No stranger to the Totalsports Women’s Race, Glenrose Xaba—the newly crowned SA 10km record holder—has secured the top spot on the podium once in Durban and twice in Johannesburg during her illustrious career.
“The Totalsports Women’s Race is close to my heart because it takes place during Women’s Month and supports PinkDrive, an organisation that helps those diagnosed with cancer,” says Xaba.
“I appreciate that it’s a women’s-only race, providing a vital opportunity for women to network and support each other in sports. Having international athletes like Christine and Tadu racing in the Totalsports Women’s Race is very important to us SA women.”
Image: Pholisa Ngameni / Stillwater Sports
