ADVERTORIAL
Glenrose Xaba celebrates after winning the 2024 SPAR Grand Prix 10km Tshwane
Famous SPAR Win for Xaba
Glenrose Xaba stormed to victory in the Tshwane Spar Women ’ s 10km Challenge on 3 August , finally getting a win over long-time rival Tadu Nare of Ethiopia , and cemented her position at the top of the SPAR Grand Prix points log for 2024 .
Ethiopia ’ s Tadu Nare has looked unbeatable in SPAR Women ’ s Challenge races in South Africa since 2021 . Having made her debut in the series in 2019 , when she finished second in four out of six races and finished runner-up in the final Grand Prix standings , she returned in 2021 , after COVID , to win her first Grand Prix title , then retained the title in 2022 and 2023 , winning 15 out of the 16 races she lined up in . The Ethiopian has not tasted defeat in a SPAR race since May 2022 .
This year , she has focused on longer distances , and thus missed the first race of the 2024 series in Cape Town , but she was back for Tshwane , and was understandably considered one of the pre-race favourites for the win . However , South Africa ’ s Glenrose Xaba had other ideas . Fresh from her record-breaking run at the beginning of Durban , where she posted a scintillating 31:12 to take one second off Elana Meyer ’ s 23-year-old SA Record , she came into the Tshwane SPAR event brimming with confidence that the she could finally beat the Ethiopian . Important to remember
SENIOR |
1 Glenrose Xaba ( Boxer ) |
32:52 |
2 Tadu Nare ( Nedbank / Ethiopia ) |
34:52 |
3 Cacisile Sosibo ( Boxer ) |
35:20 |
4 Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) |
35:54 |
5 Carmie Prinsloo ( Tuks ) |
36:00 |
6 Millicent Nyaberi ( Nedbank / Kenya ) |
36:19 |
7 Malineo Mahloko ( Maxed Elite / Lesotho ) 36:36 |
8 Karabo More ( Masai ) |
36.54 |
9 Faith Kiptoo ( Nedbank / Kenya ) |
37:01 |
10 Caster Semenya ( Masai ) |
37:13 |
JUNIOR |
1 Wiepke Schoeman ( Boxer ) |
38:44 |
2 Jackie Coertze ( Boxer ) |
40:55 |
3 Stephanie Verschoor ( Boxer ) |
42:44 |
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The top three in Tshwane , Cacisile Sosibo , Glenrose Xaba and Tadu Nare
here is that Nare ’ s personal best for 10km is 31:13 , and Xaba is now one-second faster , on paper .
Xaba and Nare ran side by side until about seven kilometres , when the South African surged into the lead and never looked back . She crossed the line at Supersport Park in 32:52 , exactly two minutes ahead of Nare , with Cacisile Sosibo third in 35:20 . “ I am very excited to have beaten Tadu ,” said Xaba . “ I was very well prepared for this race , and I was very focused . I know Tadu is strong on the hills , but my coach Caster is always telling me to
ON TOP IN TSHWANE
These are the top results from the SPAR Women ’ s 10km Challenge Tshwane , held at SuperSport Park on Saturday 3 August .
40-49 |
1 Lebo Phalula-Mzazi ( Boxer ) |
35:54 |
2 Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli ( Boxer ) |
38:13 |
3 Jeannie Henderson ( Nedbank ) |
39:37 |
50-59 |
1 Anne Stewart ( Atlantic ) |
42:10 |
2 Janene Carey ( Boxer ) |
43:25 |
3 Tabitha Tsatsa ( Nedbank / Zimbabwe ) |
44:09 |
60-69 |
1 Judy Bird ( Boxer ) |
43.36 |
2 Karen Brough ( Boxer ) |
48:48 |
3 Grace de Oliveira ( Maxed Elite ) |
52:18 |
70-PLUS |
1 Winnie Koekemoer ( AGN Masters ) |
1:01:14 |
2 Lettie Coetzee ( Pretoria Bobbies ) |
1:05:28 |
3 Annatjie Greyvenstein ( Irene ) |
1:06:45 |
finish strongly . I thought I would make my break at eight kilometres , but at six I was feeling good and decided to go for it . I won the SPAR Grand Prix in 2018 , and I want to win it again ,” added Xaba .
Nare said she had not been feeling well , but decided to run anyway . “ I am so happy for Glenrose , who has shown so much growth . I am in good condition – my stomach problems were just a coincidence . I will definitely be running the last two races in the series .” Meanwhile , the top 10 was rounded off by double Olympic Games gold medallist Caster Semenya , who posted a very respectable 37:13 for her debut 10km race . As mentioned , she is one of Xaba ’ s coaches , along with her wife , Violet Semenya . After the race , she said she was very pleased with her performance , but even more pleased about the way Xaba had run . “ I really enjoyed the race , and I think I will do more of them ,” she said .
This race also saw Janene Carey and Ronel Thomas both run their 100th SPAR Challenge race . Only two other runners – Sonja Laxton and Grace de Oliveira – have achieved this milestone . Both Cary and Thomas said the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge races are as hard as South African nationals . “ The best of the best run them , and you have to work very hard to do well ,” said Thomas . “ I love the SPAR races , because they are for women , and because of the great vibe .”
Tadu Nare and Glenrose Xaba midway in the Tshwane race
Images : Reg Caldecott