PERFECT SCORE FOR XABA ’ S HISTORIC SERIES WIN
ROAD RUNNING
With four wins out five races in the 2024 SPAR Womens ’ Challenge , Glenrose Xaba made history by becoming the first South African to win the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge Grand Prix title since 2019 , when international athletes were admitted to the Series .
In this year ’ s SPAR Grand Prix , athletes ’ top four performances were used to determine the final standings , and with four wins in her five outings , all with record time incentives , Glenrose Xaba emphatically took the Grand Prix title with a perfect tally of 120 points ( 20 for each win , plus the maximum 10 bonus points for the time incentives on offer ). Xaba was the last South African to win the SPAR Grand Prix , in 2018 .
Three-time SPAR Grand Prix winner , Tadu Nare of Ethiopia , was edged into third place on the final Grand Prix log by her fellow Ethiopian and teammate , Diniya Abaraya , who finished on 112 points to Nare ’ s 111 . Nare missed the Cape Town race , but won in Durban , finished third in Pretoria , and second in Gqeberha and Johannesburg . Abaraya missed the Tshwane race , but was fifth in Durban , second in Cape Town and Gqeberha , and third in Johannesburg . Another South African , Cacisile Sosibo , finished in fourth place , with 72 points .
The Phalula twins , Diana-Lebo Phalula-Mzazi and Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli , dominated the 40-49 veteran category , with Phalula-Mzazi achieving a perfect score of four wins with maximum points for a total of 40 , while Phalula-Luthuli had one win and four seconds for a total of 37 points . Phalula-Mzazi was also seventh overall in the open category , while her sister finished ninth . In the category for runners between 50 and 59 , Anne Stewart fell one point short of a perfect 40 , with 39 points from three wins and a second place , while Judy Bird aced the 60-69 category by winning every race with maximum points .
SPAR GRAND PRIX 2024 LEADERBOARD
This is how the series standings look after the fifth and final race in Johannesburg on 6 October .
OPEN CATEGORY |
1 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
120 |
2 Diniya Abaraya ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
112 |
3 Tadu Nare ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
111 |
4 Cacisile Sosibo ( Boxer ) |
72 |
5 Blandina Makatisi ( Maxed Elite / Lesotho ) |
69 |
6 Karabo Mailula ( Tuks ) |
61 |
7 Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) |
53 |
8 Malineo Mahloko ( Maxed Elite / Lesotho ) |
47 |
9 Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli ( Boxer ) |
38 |
10 Millicent Nyaberi ( Nedbank / Kenya ) |
36 |
SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETES |
1 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
120 |
2 Cacisile Sosibo ( Boxer ) |
72 |
3 Karabo Mailula ( Tuks ) |
61 |
4 Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) |
53 |
5 Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli ( Boxer ) |
38 |
40-49 YEARS |
1 Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) |
40 |
2 Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli ( Boxer ) |
37 |
3 Jeannie Henderson ( Nedbank ) |
6 |
50-59 YEARS |
1 Anne Stewart ( Atlantic ) |
39 |
2 Elizabeth Potter ( Boxer ) |
29 |
3 Janene Carey ( Boxer ) |
23 |
60-69 YEARS |
1 Judy Bird ( Boxer ) |
40 |
2 Grace de Oliveira ( Maxed Elite ) |
35 |
3 Karen Brough ( Boxer ) |
32 |
TOPS IN 2024
Here ’ s a quick recap of the top three podium finishers in the SPAR Grand Prix events in 2024 .
CAPE TOWN , 24 MARCH |
1 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
32:17 |
2 Diniya Abaraya ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
32:24 |
3 Getenesh Agafaw ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
33:02 |
DURBAN , 23 JUNE |
1 Tadu Nare ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
31:14 |
2 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
31:57 |
3 Neheng Khatala ( Hollywood / Lesotho ) |
32:14 |
TSHWANE , 3 AUGUST |
1 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
32:53 |
2 Tadu Nare ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
34:53 |
3 Cacisile Sosibo ( Boxer ) |
35:21 |
GQEBERHA , 21 SEPTEMBER |
1 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
31:22 |
2 Diniya Abaraya ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
31:33 |
3 Tadu Nare ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
31:48 |
JOHANNESBURG , 6 OCTOBER |
1 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
32:48 |
2 Tadu Nare ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
34:00 |
3 Diniya Abaraya ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
34:14 |
The top three in Jozi , and on the Grand Prix Log is proud to be an official media partner of the 2024 SPAR Grand Prix .
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