The diminutive Poppy Mlambo beat over 2 300 runners to win Sunday's Spar Ladies 10km race in Pietermaritzburg.Mlambo who was a late entry to the event from Gauteng and local favourite Tanith Maxwell led from the gun. At the first steep descent it was clear that South Africa's leading lady marathoner, Maxwell, was still feeling her Berlin Championship race in her legs.
"I thought I had recovered enough but the legs were flat as soon as I tried to run the hills," said the 33-year-old who found herself 100 metres off the pace as Mlambo pulled away just before half way.
Nedbank's Mlambo spent much of the final three kilometres checking the gap over her shoulder before racing in to the oval to cross the finish line in 36 minutes and three seconds.
'Poppy deserved her win ... she has been training hard
"My body is still very stiff from Saturday (SA Cross country) but I knew Tanith would still have Berlin in her legs, so I just kept ahead of her" said Mlambo.
"Even though this is not part of the Grand Prix, I love this event and the course"
A discrepancy with the timing apparatus resulted in the organisers and officials agreeing that Mlambo's time would equal the course record held by Maxwell, and amending all prize giving times by 39 seconds.
Maxwell's Boxer club mate Janene Carey had also raced in Saturday's SA Cross Country Championships in Tshwane but was able to finish a clear third in 38 minutes 15 seconds.
Maxwell had fallen during her warm up ran 36 minutes 24 seconds for her second place.
"The fall never really impacted. I knew that as long as I kept moving the ankle I should be OK, but will probably feel it tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday," said the Kloof-based athlete.
"Poppy deserved her win today, she has been training hard for the half marathon at the high altitude camp."
Mlambo is part of the team named to compete in the World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham UK next month.
Maxwell's mother kept winning ways in the family, taking one hour six minutes and 37 seconds to complete the course for top spot in the 60 plus category.
This year's race attracted all ages of runners with considerable increase in the number of younger runners with Nisipho Khuzwayo leading the juniors home in the 10k in 49 minutes 46 seconds, only a few strides ahead of Thembeka Bhengu.
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