Glenrose Xaba made one of the most spectacular debuts in the history of South African road running on Sunday, breaking the national record in her first 42km race at the Cape Town Marathon.
Taking no prisoners as she wound up the pace in the second half, Xaba was incredible, defeating a powerful international line-up to win the women’s race in 2:22:22.
ALSO READ: Cape Town Marathon results
She sliced one minute, 47 seconds (1:47) off the South African set by Gerda Steyn in Valencia in December last year.
In the process, Xaba also set a new course record and became the first SA woman in 14 years to win the Cape Town Marathon.
The stellar performance closed out a memorable season for the 29-year-old distance runner, who won the national titles this year over the 5 000m and 10 000m distance on the track and 10km and 21km on the road. She also set a new national 10km record of 31:12 at the Absa Run Your City race in Durban in July.
Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia, who won the world title in 2015, settled for the runner-up spot at the Cape Town Marathon in 2:22:36 and Pascalia Chepkgoei finished third in 2:22:49.
In the men’s race, Ethiopian athletes dominated, with Abdisa Tola Adera winning in a course record 2:08:16, while his compatriot and defending champion Adane Kebede Gebre finished second in 2:08:32.
Melikhaya Frans was the first South African man home, taking fifth place overall in 2:12:18.
* Featured image of Glenrose Xaba by Reg Caldecott/Spar Grand Prix
