Glenrose Xaba continued her dominance of the Spar Women’s Challenge 10km with yet another compelling victory in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, on Saturday, 27 February 2025.
The Boxer Athletic Club runner clocked a fast 31:57 to breast the finish tape first ahead of surprise package Tayla Kavanagh (32:01) of Hollywood Athletics Club. Ethiopia’s Diniya Abaraya, running in the green colours of Nedbank Running Club, completed the podium positions in 32:04.
Xaba has now won all four races in the 2025 Grand Prix Series to hold on to her title with the luxury of next weekend’s Johannesburg leg to spare, as she enjoys an unassailable 115 points.
She becomes the first South African Black athlete to win the Spar Grand Prix three times, having also reigned victorious back in 2018. Xaba adds her name to that stellar list which includes her compatriots Rene Kalmer, Irvette van Zyl, as well as Namibia’s Helalia Johannes and Tadu Nare of Ethiopia.
On a morning perfect for good running in the Windy City, Xaba lived up to her billing as favourite by starting on the front foot and looking fresh after opting to skip Wednesday’s Absa Run Your City Joburg 10K.
Her usual nemesis Selam Gebre and her compatriot Diniya Abaraya stuck with her in the initial stage and history suggested the former would be her main competition. For a while it looked like the podium positions were decided as the trio enjoyed the lead.
Glenrose Xaba Wins Inaugural Absa Run Your City Mangaung 10k
Glenrose Xaba Takes Gold at Boxer Super Run Durban
Zanele Maisa Wins ASA 10km Gold in Potchefstroom
Tayla Kavanagh Breaks South African 10km Record in Romania
Glenrose Xaba Wins Jozi 10km to Claim Record Fourth Grand Prix
Marione Fourie and Prudence Sekgodiso Fly the Flag in Budapest Semifinals
But having recently competed at the Buenos Aires Marathon where she finished in fourth place, Gebre struggled to keep up as Xaba injected the pace.
Resplendent in what is now becoming her trademark white cap, the athlete nicknamed ‘SuperCharge’ injected some pace into her run and that was all she wrote – the race was over as a contest, at least for the first spot.
Kavanagh dug deep to sneak into second spot ahead of Abaraya.
Speaking at the post-race media conference, Xaba’s delight at having sealed yet another Grand Prix title knew no bounds – particularly given that she was not feeling well.
“I was not 100 percent. My body was not responding well,” she said. “The course was very fast. Last year I ran a course record. Today I did ’31 high because my body was not responding well. I tried my best to push my pace, but I could not push much. But I told myself, ‘Let me keep the pace’, and then in the last three kilometres I said, ‘Let me give myself a push’.”
Tswelopele Mohapi Is Writing Her Own Story in Sports PR
Carina Bruwer: A Decade of Swimming for South African Causes
Bloomberg’s “The Long Game” Maps the Women’s Sport Boom
Some of the most valuable thinking on the business of women’s sport is being produced…
Springbok Women Tweak Side for Final WXV Test against Ireland
Fort Hare Stun JVW, Stellies and Diepkloof Boost Survival Hopes
Anneke Bosch and Annerie Dercksen Maintain Pro20 Records
The final leg of the Spar Grand Prix will take place on Sunday morning at the Marks Park Sporting Club in Emmerentia, Johannesburg.
Leading Open Results of the Spar Grand Prix women’s 10km race held in Gqeberha on Saturday, 27 September 2025.
1. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) 31:57
2. Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywoodbets) 32:01
3 Diniya Abaraya (Nedbank) 32:04
4 Karabo Mailula (Tuks) 32:43
5 Selam Gebre (Nedbank) 33:02
6 Karabo More (Boxer) 33:15
7 Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer) 33:47
8 Carina Swiegers (Boxer) 35:47
9 Nicola Wills (Boxer) 35:56
10 Lizandre Mulder (Kovsies) 36:10
U20
1. Chanell Groenewalt (Boxer) 38:16
2. Hlengiwe Nkosi (Madibaz) 39:32
3. Abbie Mitchell (Madibaz) 41:25
4. Ilke Wolmarans (Elite) 47:03
5. Entle Komani (Kowie) 48:50
40-49
1. Janie Grundling (Peak) 37:03
2. Nerida Lubbe (Nedbank) 39:20
3. Ntombesintu Mfunzi (Nedbank) 42:38
4. Cindy Marais (Charlo) 43:50
5. Natascia de Ridder (Elite) 48:23
50-59
1. Elizabeth Potter (Boxer) 39:42
2. Janene Carey (Boxer) 42:23
3. Davera Magson (Nedbank) 45:33
4. Liezl van Zyl (Nedbank) 46:32
5. Burinta Strydom (Run 4 Christ) 46:54
60-69
1. Judy Bird (Boxer) 41:42
2. Grace de Oliveira (Maxed Elite) 45:13
3. Christine Claasen (Nedbank) 46:41
4. Lelanie Cornelius (NA) 49:39
5. Johanette Oosthuizen (Body Concept) 50:44
70-79
1. Margie Saunders (Nedbank) 45:06
2. Rozetta Kemp (Run 4 Christ) 56:30
Original Copy: BLD Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Glenrose Xaba has sealed the 2025 Spar Grand Prix title in Gqeberha, clocking 31:57 for her fourth win of the season ahead of Tayla Kavanagh (right) and Diniya Abaraya (left), to give her an unassailable series lead, at Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, on Saturday, 27 February 2025. All Photos: Micheal Sheehan / Gallo Images
Photo 2 Caption: Xaba wins her a noteworthy distinction of becoming the first Black South African athlete to win the Spar Grand Prix series three times.
Photo 3 Caption: Despite not feeling well, the athlete nicknamed ‘SuperCharge’ injected pace, and the race for the first spot was over as a contest.
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
