ROAD RUNNING
The top three in Gqeberha , and on the Grand Prix Log
XABA CLINCHES 2024 SPAR GRAND PRIX
Glenrose Xaba ’ s victory in the Gqeberha SPAR Women ’ s 10km Challenge means she will become the first South African to win the SPAR Grand Prix since the series was opened to international athletes in 2019 . Xaba , who won the series title in 2018 , has a near perfect score of 119 points from four races , after winning every race apart from the Durban Challenge in June . She earned maximum bonus points in all the races , and there is now no other runner who can pass her on the SPAR Grand Prix ladder . want to win it again ,” she said . And winning the title will bring her a significant cash bonanza , as the winner of the SPAR Grand Prix receives prize money of R200,000 . In addition , Xaba will receive R75,000 for being the top South African , and she will also have the use of a Proton X50 SUV for a year !
After her stunning victory over three-times SPAR Grand Prix winner Tadu Nare in Tshwane last month , Xaba let it be known that she was determined to become the first South African to win the overall title since international athletes were admitted . “ I won it in 2018 and I
SPAR GRAND PRIX 2024 LEADERBOARD
This is how the series standings look after the fourth race in Gqeberha on 21 September .
OPEN CATEGORY |
1 |
Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
119 |
2 |
Diniya Abaraya ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
84 |
3 |
Tadu Nare ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
82 |
4 |
Cacisile Sosibo ( Boxer ) |
72 |
5 |
Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) |
53 |
5 |
Karabo Mailula ( Tuks ) |
53 |
7 |
Blandina Makatisi ( Maxed Elite / Lesotho ) |
47 |
8 |
Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli ( Boxer ) |
38 |
9 |
Malineo Mahloko ( Maxed Elite / Lesotho ) |
37 |
10 |
Neheng Khatala ( Hollywood / Lesotho ) |
28 |
SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETES |
1 |
Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
119 |
2 |
Cacisile Sosibo ( Boxer ) |
72 |
3 |
Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) |
53 |
3 |
Karabo Mailula ( Tuks ) |
53 |
5 |
Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli ( Boxer ) |
38 |
40-49 YEARS |
1 |
Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) |
39 |
2 |
Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli ( Boxer ) |
37 |
3 |
Jeannie Henderson ( Nedbank ) |
3 |
3 |
Christiane Adriaanse ( Nedbank ) |
3 |
3 |
Fikile Mbuthuma ( Phantane ) |
3 |
3 |
Ntombesintu Mfunzi ( Nebank ) |
3 |
50-59 YEARS |
1 |
Anne Stewart ( Atlantic ) |
29 |
2 |
Janene Carey ( Boxer ) |
23 |
3 |
Elizabeth Potter ( Boxer ) |
20 |
60-69 YEARS |
1 |
Judy Bird ( Boxer ) |
40 |
2 |
Karen Brough ( Boxer ) |
30 |
3 |
Grace de Oliveira ( Maxed Elite ) |
29 |
Going Down to the Wire
With Xaba having clinched the SPAR Grand Prix , the battle will now be on for second place and R100,000 prize money . Nare ’ s fellow Ethiopian Diniya Abaraya is currently in second position , with 84 points , just two points ahead of Nare . Abaraya beat Nare in Gqeberha on Saturday , but Nare was still recovering from winning the Mbombela Marathon a week earlier , and could turn the tables on her compatriot in the final race in Johannesburg on 6 October .
Cacisile Sosibo is in line to finish as the second South African on the log , which would earn her additional prize money of R50,000 , on top of her overall position prize money , but she has 72 points , and could be pipped at the post if former SPAR Grand Prix winner Diana-Lebo Phalula-Mzazi or Karabo Mailula beat her in the upcoming Jozi Challenge . They are currently tied on 53 points each . Meanwhile , Phalula-Mzazi appears set to win the 40-49 age category , but there things are even tighter , with her twin sister Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli just two points behind her .
Glenrose Xaba is all smiles this year in the SPAR Grand Prix
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Xaba has the title sown up , but Nare and Abaraya are still contesting second
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