Glenrose Xaba continued to flaunt her spectacular form, clocking 31:22 to win the Spar Grand Prix women’s 10km race in Gqeberha on Saturday.
Xaba hit the front from the start, and while she had Ethiopian athletes Diniya Abaraya and Tadu Nare on her tail for most of the race, she managed to shake them off in the chase for the line.
The 29-year-old South African extended her series lead, crossing the finish line just 10 seconds outside her own national record (31:12) which she set at the Absa Run Your City race in Durban in July.
It was Xaba’s third victory in four races thus far in the 2024 Spar Grand Prix campaign.
Abaraya held on for the runner-up spot in 31:33, clocking the 13th fastest time ever run by a junior athlete.
Nare, who won the Mpumalanga Marathon a week earlier, lost touch in the closing stages and settled for third position in 31:48.
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“I had a good run. I planned to go from the gun, to try and run under 32 minutes,” Xaba said.
“The weather conditions were very good, which enabled us to run fast times. I wasn’t expecting to be so close to the SA record.”
Results, Spar Grand Prix 10km (Gqeberha)
1 Glenrose Xaba (RSA) 31:22, 2 Diniya Abaraya (ETH) 31:33, 3 Tadu Nare (ETH) 31:48, 4 Carina Viljoen (RSA) 33:10, 5 Karabo Mailula (RSA) 33:20, 6 Blandina Makatisi (LES) 33:27, 7 Cacisile Sosibo (RSA) 33:34, 8 Lebo Phalula-Mzazi (RSA) 34:24, 9 Malineo Mahloko(LES) 34:55, 10 Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli (RSA) 35:12
