Record-breaking Xaba wins at SPAR Grand Prix Awards
Glenrose Xaba has powered through yet another record-breaking season, sweeping all five SPAR Women’s Challenge races in 2025 and walking away with R515 000 in prize money.
It was a mega payday for Boxer Athletics star and South African 10km and marathon record holder Glenrose ‘Supercharge’ Xaba at the annual SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge Grand Prix Awards, held at the Protea Hotel Midrand on November 11.
Xaba walked away with R515 000 in prize money: R200 000 for winning the overall SPAR Grand Prix Series, an additional R100 000 as the first South African finisher, and R215 000 for winning all five races in the 2025 series.
The 31-year-old athlete made history as the first black South African to win the SPAR Grand Prix Series three times, following her victories in 2017, 2024, and now 2025. Only Rene Kalmer, Irvette van Zyl, and Ethiopian star Tadu Nare have also achieved this feat.
Her latest title was secured after a dominant performance at the Jozi 10km Challenge in October, where she claimed her fifth consecutive win of the season.
“I hope young black girls will be inspired by what I have achieved,” said Xaba. “I think they will see what I have done and believe they can do it too… I want to thank my coach, Violet Semenya, and my mentor, Caster [Semenya], who both believed in me and helped me develop as an athlete.”
Speaking about her race strategy, she said, “I always came with another strategy because I knew that the last part of the race would be hard. I think training with the guys who push the pace very hard really helped me in the final stages.”
In the overall standings, Ethiopian Nedbank runners Diniya Abaraya and Salem Gebre finished second and third, respectively. Karabo Mailula of Tuks finished fourth as the second-highest South African, while Karabo More from Boxer rounded out the top five.
In the junior category, Chanell Groenewalt topped the leaderboard with 37 points, ahead of Boxer teammates Wiepke Schoeman (35 points) and Taya Pelser (29). The 40–49 age group title went to Janie Grundling with 20 points, followed by Olga Firsova (19) and Lebo Phalula (10).
Elizabeth Potter dominated the 50–59 category with 40 points, ahead of Anne Stewart and Janene Carey. In the 60+ division, Midrand-based veteran Judy Bird remained unbeaten, claiming top honours with 40 points, followed by Grace de Oliveira and Gail Baruch.
Speaking at the awards, SPAR national PR, communications, and sponsorship manager Mpudi Maubane said the company remains committed to celebrating women’s excellence in sport.
“The SPAR Grand Prix is the only series in the country dedicated exclusively to women athletes. We’re proud that it has become a benchmark for similar events around the world. Congratulations to all the runners, from juniors to veterans, for their world-class performances,” Maubane said.
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