Adnaan Mohamed in Pretoria
Pretoria – South African 10km sensation Glenrose Xaba won the Absa Run Your City Tshwane 10km race on Sunday morning in the fastest time ever by a South African woman at altitude.
Around 8500 participants lined up for the race in ideal sunny, windless, conditions at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The 29-year-old ran the 10km in a remarkable 31 minutes and 51 minutes. It was the second fastest time of her career and also a route record on the route in the Jacaranda City. She beat the time of 2023 champion Debash Desta of Ethiopia by 23 seconds.
The previous best time by a SA woman inland of 32.20 was run by the legendary Zola Budd in 1983 in Bloemfontein.
The Boxer club athlete showed Blandina Makatisi (32.58) a clean pair of heels. Makatisi’s compatriot Neheng Khatala (33:35), who represented Lesotho in the marathon at the Olympic Games in Paris, finished third.
Xaba is currently in the form of her life. She broke the national 10km record (31:12) at the Absa Run Your City 10km race in Durban on 7 July by one second. Former Olympic 10 000 m silver medalist Elana Meyer set the record in October 2001 in Budapest.
Xaba set the national record time of 31:12 on a fast flat route on the coast, while Sunday morning’s race was 1350 meters above sea level.
It was her third sub-32-minute 10km race this year. With this performance the athlete, who is coached by former Olympic silver medalist Caster Semenya and Violet Semenya, cemented her place as one of the country’s best elite middle-distance women athletes of all time.
“I faced so many ups and downs throughout my career, but I managed to rise above all the difficulties,” an elated Xaba said afterwards.
Xaba won the SA 5 000 m, 10 000 m, 10 km and 21 km titles this year. She says the win is proof of the hard work and dedication she puts into her training sessions. placed.
“I always pray, and I am grateful for what I have achieved so far,” says Xaba.
“So, to win one of the Absa races is a dream come true. I think it’s because I focus a lot on my training. I don’t miss any sessions even when I’m tired. I recover quickly after races. I am happy that I have a good system (Power2Health) that supports me and helps me stay injury-free.”
In the men’s race, Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo stopped the clock in 28:40 also set a new route record. In his debut, Mofolo smashed the record of 29:12 set by Kabelo Mulaudzi last year. Gideon Kipgnetich from Kenya (28:42) crossed the finish line two seconds after him.
Kamohelo Mofolo by Tobias Ginsberg
Defending champion Mulaudzi (28:52) was third whilst Elroy Gelant, who took 11th place in the Olympic Marathon in Paris in 2:09:07 on August 10, finished the race in fourth place in 29:02 yesterday on his birthday.
TOP 10 RESULTS: 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K
Date: Sunday 25 August 2024
Start & Finish: Stanza Bopape Street, Arcadia, Pretoria
TOP 10 MEN
1 Kamohelo Mofolo (LES) 28:40, 2 Gideon Kipgnetich (KEN) 28:42, 3 Kabelo Mulaudzi (RSA) 28:52, 4 Elroy Gelant (RSA) 29:02, 5 Chris Mhlanga (RSA) 29:18, 6 Nicholas Seoposengwe (RSA) 29:29, 7 Lucky Mohale (RSA) 29:39, 8 Onalenna Khonkhobi (RSA) 29:42, 9 Niel Van Der Merwe (RSA) 29:43, 10 Puseletso Mofokeng (RSA) 29:46
Elroy, Kabelo, Nicholas and Kamohelo Mofolo by Tobias Ginsberg
TOP 10 WOMEN
1 Glenrose Xaba (RSA) 31:51, 2 Blandina Makatisi (LES) 32:58, 3 Neheng Khatala (LES) 33:35, 4 Karabo Mailua (RSA) 33:37, 5 Fridah Ndinda (KEN) 33:46, 6 Cacisile Sosibo (RSA) 34:47, 7 Karabo More (RSA) 35:12, 8 Malineo Mahloko (LES) 35:33, 9 Millicent Nyaberi (KEN) 35:37, 10 Lebo Phalula (RSA) 36:00
Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K Elite Race Start by Tobias Ginsberg
