Defending series champion Glenrose Xaba stayed in the hunt to retain her overall title by winning the penultimate leg of the Spar Grand Prix at Pollok Beach in Gqeberha on Saturday, 26 September 2026.
Clocking the second-fastest 10km time of her career, Xaba (who was third in the series standings ahead of the race) secured victory in 31:17 in the colours of Boxer Athletics Club. Karabo More (Boxer) went with the early pace before dropping off, leaving her training partner Xaba with only Ethiopian athlete Selam Gebre (Nedbank Running Club) for company.
Xaba dropped Gebre shortly before halfway as she wound up the pace, opening a massive gap in the second half to cross the line just five seconds outside her own South African record of 31:12. More fought hard in the closing stages to reel in Gebre, taking second place in a personal best of 32:21, with the Ethiopian hanging on for third in 32:33.
Xaba’s winning margin of 64 seconds over More underlined the authority of her front-running, while just 12 seconds separated second and third at the finish.
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Behind the podium, Cian Oldknow (Hollywood) took fourth in 33:09, three seconds ahead of Carina Viljoen (Peak) in 33:12, while Boxer teammates Karabo Mailula and Cacisile Sosibo completed the top seven in 33:17 and 33:24 respectively. Boxer placed four athletes in the top seven, including the winner and runner-up.
The top seven finishers all dipped under 33:30, earning bonus points in the Grand Prix series standings. Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood) was eighth in 33:52, a second clear of Dikeledi Majara (Nedbank ByGrace) in 33:53, with Olga Firsova rounding off the top 10 in 34:21.
Xaba admitted she was a little disappointed to miss her national record after realising it might be within reach in the closing stages. She was nonetheless pleased to pick up maximum points in the race for the series crown and satisfied with her performance on a newly designed course in Gqeberha.
“I was not sure that I was on record pace while I was running, but with 50m or 100m to go I saw I was within that time, and when I crossed the finish line, I was disappointed because I just missed it,” Xaba said.
“I led from the gun because this was only my third race in the series this year and I’m chasing points, so I’m glad everything went according to plan.
Spar Grand Prix Defending Champion, Glenrose Xaba
“The route was very fast, and I think it can produce multiple records in future.”
In the U20 division, Mpho Katiso (TUT) came out on top in 36:17 ahead of Chanel Groenewald (Boxer) in 37:15. Her 58-second winning margin mirrored the authority of Xaba’s victory in the senior race.
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Desnay O’Grady (Ikhamva) claimed third in 39:08, with Nedbank pair Kezia Matthysen and Kylie Dorfling completing the top five in 43:04 and 44:45 respectively. Groenewald’s second place gave Boxer a podium finish in both the senior and U20 races in Gqeberha.
Leading Elite Results at the Gqeberha leg of the Spar Grand Prix Women’s 10km Series, at Pollok Beach in the Eastern Cape on Saturday, 26 September 2026
1. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) 31:17
2. Karabo More (Boxer) 32:21
3. Selam Gebre (Nedbank) 32:33
4. Cian Oldknow (Hollywood) 33:09
5. Carina Viljoen (Peak) 33:12
6. Karabo Mailula (Boxer) 33:17
7. Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer) 33:24
8. Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood) 33:52
9. Dikeledi Majara (Nedbank ByGrace) 33:53
10. Olga Firsova (N/A) 34:21
Leading U20 Results
1. Mpho Katiso (TUT) 36:17
2. Chanel Groenewald (Boxer) 37:15
3. Desnay O’Grady (Ikhamva) 39:08
4. Kezia Matthysen (Nedbank) 43:04
5. Kylie Dorfling (Nedbank) 44:45
Original Copy: BLD Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Glenrose Xaba kept her Spar Grand Prix title defence firmly on track with victory in 31:17 in the penultimate leg of the 2026 series, finishing just five seconds outside her own South African 10km record, as Boxer teammate Karabo More took second and Ethiopia’s Selam Gebre claimed third place, at Pollok Beach in Gqeberha on Saturday, 26 September 2026. All Photos: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
Photo 2 Caption: Karabo More (right) produced a determined late surge to overhaul Selam Gebre (left) for second place in 32:21, for a Boxer one-two behind Xaba.
Photo 3 Caption: Thousands of women took to the newly designed course, turning the Spar Women’s Challenge into a powerful stand against GBV.
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