Pre-race favourite Glenrose Xaba lived up to the hype on Saturday, winning the senior women’s 10km title in warm and windy conditions at the ASA Cross Country Championships in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, on Saturday, 6 September 2025.
Xaba broke away from the rest of the field on the first lap and gradually stretched her lead until she crossed the finish line nearly three minutes ahead of her nearest opponent in 35:12.
Her training partner and Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) teammate Karabo Mailula earned the silver medal in 37:57, and Cacisile Sosibo (CGA) hung on to grab bronze in 38:26.
“It was a bit windy and it was warm, but not too hot. And the course was good because it was challenging,” Xaba said.
“I’m still preparing for my next marathon (later this year), so I needed that strength because cross country is about the power you put in. This is good preparation for the marathon.”
2025 SA 10km Cross Country Champion, Glenrose Xaba
In other races, Karabo More, representing AGN, successfully defended her national senior 4km title in 13:34. Danielle Verster was 20 seconds behind More, completing the event in 13:54 in the colours of Athletics Central North West (ACNW), to take second position overall and win the U23 division. Ntsoaki Mohlahloe of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) was third overall in 14:08, taking the silver medal in the senior division.
Over the 2km distance, Carmie Prinsloo (AGN) won the senior women’s race in 6:31 and, among the juniors, Anele Matsoso of Athletics Vaal Triangle (AVT) was second in 26:28 and Oratile Masigo (CGA) ended third in 26:48.
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In the U20 women’s 6km contest, Lara van der Merwe (AGN) triumphed in 22:56. Anele Ndawonde (KZNA) claimed the silver medal in 23:03, and Andrea Steynberg (ACNW) was 21 seconds further back, securing bronze in 23:24.
There was a record turnout in Middelburg, with more than 4,300 athletes representing all 17 of Athletics South Africa’s member provinces, across a wide range of age groups, from children under the age of 8 to runners over 90.
“What a splendid day it was!” was how James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa, summarised it. “It was once again mass participation at its best.
“There can never be anything more joyous than watching the thrill of all age groups in competition, chasing their various dreams.”
Original Copy: Athletics SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Glenrose Xaba sped away from the competition cruise to the senior women’s 2025 10km title in warm and windy conditions at the ASA Cross Country Championships in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, on Saturday, 6 September 2025. Photo: PicMe / Athletics SA
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