Defending champion Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) made history as the first athlete to win the Spar Grand Prix four times when she won the Jozi Spar Women’s 10km Challenge in 32:26 at the Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg on Sunday, 4 October 2026.
Glenrose Xaba shot to the front from the start and was never challenged, crossing the line more than a minute clear of Boxer teammate Karabo More, who was second in 33:36. Ethiopian Selam Gebre (Nedbank) finished third in 33:52.
The victory secured Glenrose Xaba the overall 2026 Spar Grand Prix title, and she was met at the finish by her 89-year-old grandmother, Elizabeth Xaba, who has been a major influence in her life. It was the first time Elizabeth Xaba had seen her granddaughter win a race.
Three-time Spar Grand Prix winner Irvette van Zyl was fifth in 34:42, with her Hollywood Athletics Club teammate Gerda Steyn, a multiple Two Oceans and Comrades Marathon champion, seventh in 35:23.
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Before the start, Steyn led the field of 15,000 runners in a moment’s silence to honour the victims of gender-based violence, in particular 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, who was murdered while on a training run. Moselakgomo ran the Jozi Spar Challenge in 2025, and the elite runners wore black armbands in tribute to their fellow runner.
“I am so happy to be the first person to win the Spar Grand Prix four times.”
Record-Setting Spar Grand Prix Champion, Glenrose Xaba
“My year didn’t start well, when I lost to Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) in Cape Town, and I had to pick myself up from that disappointment,” she said. “But things got better after that and I am very proud of my achievement.”
Glenrose Xaba said her focus next year would be on marathons, and she hoped to qualify for the World Marathon Championship.
“For the rest of this year, I will be running half marathons, including the Hong Kong half marathon,” she said. “I think Karabo has a good chance of winning the Spar Grand Prix next year,” she added.
At the post-race press conference it was revealed that Kavanagh had broken Glenrose Xaba’s South African record when she finished fifth in the Brasov 10km in Romania in 30:50.
“I am very happy for Tayla. Records are meant to be broken,” said Glenrose Xaba.
“I hope Tayla and I can run against each other and maybe even break 30 minutes as we push one another.”
More said she was very proud to have finished second in back-to-back Spar Grand Prix races, having also been runner-up in Gqeberha the previous Saturday.
Steyn said the race was a huge tribute to the women who have died as a result of GBV, and particularly to their fellow runner Moselakgomo.
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“I thought about her while I was running. I hope her daughter knows how many people were thinking of Elizabeth as they ran this race,” said Steyn.
Top 10 Elite Jozi Spar Women’s 10km Challenge Results at the Johannesburg leg of the Spar Grand Prix Series, at Marks Park Sports Club on Sunday, 4 October 2026
1. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) 32:26
2; Karabo More (Boxer) 33:36
3. Selam Gebre (Nedbank) 33:52
4. Esther Borura (Super Eagles) 34:25
5. Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood AC) 34:42
6. Karabo Mailula (Boxer) 35:14
7. Gerda Steyn (Hollywood AC) 35:23
8. Kyla Jacobs (Boxer) 35:25
9. Emma Browne (Peak RC) 35:31
10. Dirbe Dagne (Nedbank) 35:51
Leading U20 Results
1. Dirbe Dagne (Nedbank) 35:51
2. Mpho Katiso (TUT) 38:03
3. Megan Waller (Nedbank) 39:19
Original Copy: BLD Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Glenrose Xaba became the first athlete to win the Spar Grand Prix four times by winning the Jozi Spar Women’s 10km Challenge in 32:26, more than a minute ahead of Boxer teammate Karabo More, with Ethiopian Selam Gebre (Nedbank) third and the overall 2026 Spar title secured, at the Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg on Sunday, 4 October 2026. All Photos: Reg Caldecott / Gallo Images
Photo 2 Caption: “My year didn’t start well, but things got better after that and I am very proud of my achievement.” – Xaba
Photo 3 Caption: Karabo More (right) finished second in in the Jozi 10km Challenge, her second consecutive runner-up place on the Spar Grand Prix circuit.
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