SA runner leads charge to Totalsports Women’s Race Joburg victory
Long distance runner Glenrose Xaba took home the grand win at the race held at Marks Park.
Glenrose Xaba delivered a commanding performance at the Totalsports Women’s Race (TWR) Joburg, powering to victory in the 10km race at Marks Park, August 16.
The South African star underlined her class on home soil, leading the field to claim top honours in the Johannesburg leg of the iconic women’s month celebration in 00:32:11. As the final leg of the three-event series, the TWR Joburg brought the curtain down on a memorable national campaign celebrating women through running, fitness, and community.
Following successful events in Durban and Cape Town, thousands of women came together in Emmarentia to close out the series on a high note.
Xaba referred to a post she saw, stating that Kenya’s Brenda Kenei would be aiming for sub-30:30, and decided to go with her. “I knew the course was tough, but I would try my best to stick with her. The beginning was hard because she was pushing, but I tried my best to keep the pace. I noticed that, when it came to the hills, she was not as strong, so I tried to close the gap on the downhills so that when we approached the hills, I could stick with her. I think the plan worked for me.”
Talking about when she made her break, Xaba said: “I think it was two kilometres to go when I broke away from her. I knew that when we got to one kilometre to go, we were going to climb again. The route is very fast, but also very challenging because there are a lot of ups and downs.
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“It feels amazing to cross the finish line first. I think it’s my second win of the year, so I am very happy. It shows that my training is going well. I am focusing on the world champs, so when I come to a race, I am coming with a full programme. It was a great event. Women got together, raced with friends and family, and enjoyed themselves.”
Kenei came in second, while Cacisile Sosibo, from South Africa, finished third.
Michael Meyer, managing director of Stillwater Sports, hailed the TWR Joburg as a fitting finale to a fantastic three-race series celebrating women and supporting PinkDrive. “Congratulations to Glenrose on a superb performance and a well-deserved victory. We would also like to congratulate and thank every woman who took part, helping to create such an incredible atmosphere while uniting behind the important work of PinkDrive and celebrating the strength, achievements, and spirit of women.
“The TWR Joburg was the perfect culmination of this year’s three-race series, following memorable events in Durban and Cape Town. It has been fantastic to see women across South Africa come together in such numbers, and we are incredibly proud of what the series has achieved.”
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