Former SPAR Grand Prix Champion Glenrose Xaba stormed to victory in the opening leg of the 2024 SPAR Grand Prix 10km series in Cape Town in March , but she had to dig deep in the closing stages of the race to produce a winning kick . Xaba , who became the first South African athlete in five years to win a SPAR Grand Prix race , was clearly delighted with her result , judging by her emotional celebration at the finish . After taking the lead around the halfway mark , Xaba appeared to slip off the pace with less than two kilometres remaining , with Ethiopian teenager Diniya Kedir Abaraya opening a gap . However , the South African star clawed her way back to move clear again , crossing the finish line in 32:17 . Abaraya had to settle for second place in 32:24 , with compatriot Getenesh Agafaw taking third in 33:02 .
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“ It was a good race and it went according to the plan I had discussed with my coach , Violet Semenya ,” Xaba said afterwards . “ When Abaraya started sprinting with more than a kilometre left , I was surprised and thought she had misjudged the finish , but I did not give up . I ’ ve been working hard on my finishing speed , which helped in the end , and I was very excited to get the win .”
Abanaya admitted she struggled in the latter stages of the race after launching an early kick , and while she felt she gave the victory away , the 18-year-old Ethiopian was satisfied with her result . “ It was a wonderful race . The weather was great and the environment was amazing ,” said Abanaya , who also won the junior division ahead of Agafaw . “ I didn ’ t time my race properly . I should have won , but I took off too early . It ’ s a learning curve for me , and I know next time I ’ ll do better , but all in all , I ’ m very happy with the race and with my time .”
That Winning Feeling
The win , plus being first South African home , earned Xaba R43,000 in prize money , and she takes an early lead in the Grand Prix standings for the five-race series . She will undoubtedly be looking to reclaim the Grand Prix title she won in 2018 . Since then , the series had been dominated by foreign athletes in recent years .
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All The Winners Results of the SPAR Grand Prix 10km race in Cape Town on Sunday 24 March 2024 .
Senior
1 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) 32:17 2 Diniya Kedir Abaraya ( Nedbank ) 32:24 3 Getenesh Agafaw ( Nedbank ) 33:02 4 Cacisile Sosibo ( Boxer ) 33:06 5 Kesa Molotsane ( Kovsies ) 33:17 6 Karabo Mailula ( Tuks ) 34:43 7 Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli ( Boxer ) 35:49 8 Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) 35:50 9 Bianca Tarboton ( Temp ) 35:58 10 Betha Sitariko ( Atlantic ) 36:25
Juniors
1 Diniya Kedir Abaraya ( Nedbank ) 32:24 2 Getenesh Agafaw ( Nedbank ) 33:02 3 Alulutho Mithani ( Khayalitsha ) 41:52
40-49
1 Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli ( Boxer ) 35:49 2 Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) 35:50 3 Christiane Adriaanse ( Nedbank ) 38:58
50-59
1 Anne Stewart ( Atlantic ) 40:19 2 Ronel Thomas ( Boxer ) 40:49 3 Janene Carey ( Boxer ) 40:49
60-69
1 Judy Bird ( Boxer ) 42:18 2 Dee Smale ( Totalsports VOB ) 45:04 3 Grace de Oliveira ( Maxed Elite ) 45:15
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First SA winner of a SPAR Grand Prix race in five years ! |
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Semenya was delighted with Xaba ’ s result , adding that she was also pleased to see other SA athletes taking advantage of the ideal conditions and setting fast times through the field . “ I ’ m very happy . I was a little surprised with Glenrose ’ s position , but not really surprised by her time , and it shows she is on the right track . The SPAR Grand Prix opens doors for many women in South Africa , and it has been very important in helping Glenrose become the mature athlete she is today . She is hungry for success , and she is getting better and better .” |
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Images : Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images |
The 2024 Series
Although there will be seven SPAR Women ’ s 10km Challenge races in 2024 , only five will be included in the SPAR Grand Prix . These are Cape Town ( 24 March ), Durban ( 23 June ), Tshwane ( 3 August ), Gqeberha ( 21 September ) and Johannesburg ( 6 October ). The other races will take place in Mbombela ( 13 July ) and Pietermaritzburg ( 18 August ), plus one race in Namibia , in Windhoek on 6 April .
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The top three in the early stages of the race |
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