Glenrose Xaba wins the Spar Grand Prix in emphatic style

Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) clinched the SPAR Grand Prix title on Sunday with an emphatic win in the Johannesburg SPAR 10km Women’s Challenge with a time of 32:48. It was her fourth SPAR Women’s Challenge series win this year.

Three times SPAR Grand Prix winner Tadu Nare (Nedbank) was second in 34:00 and her Ethiopian teammate Diniya Abaraya was third in 34:14. Xaba, Nare and Abaraya ran together for the first six kilometres, but then Xaba surged ahead and ran on her own for the rest of the race. Xaba, who won the title in 2018, became the first South African to win the SPAR Grand Prix title since international runners were admitted in 2019.

“I am very happy to have won the SPAR Grand Prix again,” said Xaba.

“I made many sacrifices to win, including not trying to qualify for the Olympic Games. My coaches, Caster Semenya and Violet Semenya persuaded me that there was a bigger picture.”

She said it had been a tough race, with a number of difficult hills.

“I knew it was going be a fast race today. The competition has been very good.”

Nare said she had done her best throughout the year and was happy with her performance.

“Glenrose has been a tremendous athlete from the get-go and has just been getting stronger and stronger. I am so pleased for her because she has put in the hard work.”

Abaraya, who has won the junior category of the SPAR Grand Prix, said this year had been one of the best and most challenging of her life.

“I have learnt so much from Tadu and Glenrose, who have helped me to be competitive. But I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go.”

Multiple ultra-marathon winner Gerda Steyn (Phantane), who finished in sixth place, said she had loved running the SPAR Women’s Challenge races.

“I am so excited to see how standards have improved,” said Steyn.

“In 2018, I finished second in the Jozi SPAR Women’s Challenge, in a time that was slower than my time today. I think the addition of the international runners has helped to push the South Africans. I am also very excited about the talent that is coming through.”

Xaba’s coach, double Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya, praised Xaba for her hard work and dedication.

“She’s determined, disciplined and willing to take instruction,” said Semenya.

“I expect big things of her in the future.”

Xaba will be running the Cape Town Marathon on October 19, with many expecting her to break the national record. But Xaba says she has no expectations but plans to enjoy her first marathon.