Defending SPAR Grand Prix champion Glenrose Xaba secured her third SPAR Women’s 10km win of the year when she won the Tshwane race by a whisker on August 2.
The Boxer AC, who is aiming to become the third South African and first black runner to win the SPAR Grand Prix Series title three times, finished the race in 32:39, just ahead of Ethiopian Diniya Abaraya (Nedbank), who finished in 32:41.
Abaraya’s teammate and fellow Ethiopian Selam Gebre was third in 33:17. Nedbank’s Kenyan runner Debrah Cherotich was fourth in 33:38.
Former three times SPAR Grand Prix winner Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood) surprised everyone when she shot into the lead at the start of the race, but the four front runners dropped her at the two-kilometre mark and ran together for the next five kilometres, when Xaba surged into the lead. She appeared to be well ahead of the two Ethiopians, but they made up lost ground and nearly caught her on the finish line. Xaba admitted later that she had been taken by surprise.
“I thought I had dropped them, so I wasn’t aware how close they were,” she said.
Xaba, who won her sixth South African half marathon title a week ago, attributed her success to her coach and her mentor, Violet, and Caster Semenya.
“They help me in so many ways, keeping me injury free and working out strategies for me,”
She thanked the Ethiopian and Kenyan runners for pushing South African runners to do better.
“They are making us competitive internationally,” said Xaba.
Xaba said she hoped her success would encourage the next generation of South African runners.
“They can see my success and believe they can succeed too,” she said.
The two Ethiopians both expressed their admiration for Xaba.
“I am amazed at how powerful she is, taking the lead from the start and staying there,” said Abaraya.
She said she had found the hilly course very challenging.
Van Zyl, who won a gold medal at the Comrades Marathon in June, said she was very excited about the young runners who were making their mark in South African road running.
“I am also so thrilled to see a South African winning again. I have watched Glenrose since she started and I am so impressed by her,” said Van Zyl.
The sell out SPAR Women’s Tshwane Challenge had 17 000 participants.
