South African distance running sensation Glenrose Xaba has etched her name into the history books, becoming the first black South African woman to win the Spar Women’s 10km Grand Prix title three times.
The 30-year-old Boxer Running Club star hit top gear in Gqeberha on Saturday, blazing through the course in 31 minutes and 57 seconds to claim her fourth straight victory of the season.
She follows in the footsteps of Rene Kalmer and Irvette van Zyl, who both managed a hattrick of vic=tories at the prestigious Spar Grand Kruger
The diminutive athlete from Embalenhle a small town outside the indusial town of Secunda in Mpumalanga, sealed the overall crown with one race still race still to come in Johannesburg – in the series of five – Johannesburg next week.
Behind her, Hollywood Athletics Club’s Taylor Kavanagh turned heads with a breakthrough run, crossing in 32:01, while Ethiopia’s Diniya Abaraya chased hard for third in 32:04.
Fresh from conquering Joburg’s streets earlier in the week 2at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K, Karabo Mailula showed staying power to finish fourth in 32:43.
Xaba’s closest series rival, Ethiopia’s Selam Gebre faded to fifth (33:02), leaving the defending champion uncatchable on the leaderboard.
For her Friendly City triumph, Xaba pocketed R30 000, adding to the R200 000 series jackpot and the brand-new Hyundai waiting for her at the Johannesburg finale on October 5.
Her decision to skip the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Joburg 10km on Heritage Day proved an astute one, as she looked to conserving energy and keeping her legs fresh for the showdown in Gqeberha.
“This victory is massive motivation for young black athletes in South Africa,” Xaba said
“I hope it inspires them to chase even greater heights.”
But the champion isn’t easing up. With the high-altitude test in Johannesburg next week and a half marathon in Lisbon on her marathon training path, Xaba is still chasing the road ahead with international ambitions on the horizon.
Xaba’s training partner Karabo Mailula (32:43), who won the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K earlier this week on Heritage Day finished fourth.
Like Xaba, the 22-year-old Tuks student is coached and trained by Caster and Violet Semenya. Mailula feels Xaba will eventually become a force to be reckoned with on the internal stage once she turns her full attention to the 42.2km marathon distance.
“Glenrose (the SA Marathon record-holder of 2:22:22 set at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on debut last year) is a brilliant athlete. She definitely has what it takes to win a major marathon on the world stage,”adds Mailula.
TOP 10 RESULTS:
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1 | 1 | Glenrose XABA | BOXER AC | 00:31:57 | Female | 1 | Senior | 1 | 00:31:57 | |
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2 | 11 | Tayla KAVANAGH | HOLLYWOOD BETS | 00:32:01 | Female | 2 | Senior | 2 | 00:32:01 |
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3 | 4 | Diniya ABARAYA | NEDBANK RC ETH | 00:32:04 | Female | 3 | Senior | 3 | 00:32:04 |
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4 | 3 | Karabo MAILULA | TUKKIES | 00:32:43 | Female | 4 | Senior | 4 | 00:32:43 |
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5 | 2 | Selam GEBRE | NEDBANK RC ETH | 00:33:02 | Female | 5 | Senior | 5 | 00:33:02 |
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6 | 6 | Karabo MORE | BOXER AC | 00:33:15 | Female | 6 | Senior | 6 | 00:33:15 |
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7 | 5 | Cacisile SOSIBO | BOXER AC | 00:33:47 | Female | 7 | Senior | 7 | 00:33:47 |
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8 | 8 | Carina SWIEGERS | BOXER AC | 00:35:47 | Female | 8 | Senior | 8 | 00:35:47 |
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9 | 9 | Nicola WILLS | BOXER AC | 00:35:56 | Female | 9 | Senior | 9 | 00:35:56 |
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10 | 12 | Lizandre MULDER | Kovsies AC | 00:36:10 | Female | 10 | Senior | 10 | 00:36:10 |
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11 | 10 | Janie GRUNDLING | PEAK AC | 00:37:03 | Female | 11 | 40-49 | 1 | 00:37:03 |
