Defending champion Glenrose Xaba successfully defended her title at the Gqeberha 10km Women's Challenge, held at Pollok Beach, Summerstrand. The event took place on a wet Saturday morning, with Xaba completing the course in 31:17. This performance saw her narrowly miss her national record of 31:12 by just five seconds. Xaba's achievement underscores her dominance in the sport, especially after competing in the half marathon at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Denmark the previous weekend.
Xaba's victory was marked by her setting an explosive pace from the start on the new course. Initially, she was joined by her Boxer Athletics Club teammate Karabo More and Ethiopia's Selam Gebre, running for Nedbank Running Club, as the leading trio quickly built a gap over the rest of the elite field. The leaders passed the 3km mark in approximately 9:40. However, More dropped off the relentless tempo set by Xaba over the next kilometre, and Gebre also found Xaba's pace too hot to handle as the weather conditions turned into a steady downpour.
By the time the route entered the Nelson Mandela University campus, Xaba had pulled almost 100 metres clear of Gebre and More. At this point, the outcome of the race was all but settled, with Xaba continuing to power forward. As she passed the 8km mark near the 25-minute mark, with a slight downhill stretch ahead, matching her national record seemed entirely within reach. Despite her strong performance, Xaba fell agonisingly short of her personal best.
The top spots in the race were dominated by South African runners. Karabo More finished second with a time of 32:21, while Selam Gebre secured third place in 32:33. Cian Oldknow finished fourth in 33:09, Carina Viljoen took fifth in 33:12, and Karabo Mailula ended sixth in 33:17. The leading positions were completed with Cacisile Sosibo, the Grand Prix series leader, finishing seventh in 33:24, just one race remaining in the series.
Xaba's performance also contributes to her bid for a historic fourth Grand Prix title. Her consistent showing across races has positioned her well in the series standings. The Spar Women's 10km Challenge in Gqeberha was a crucial event for athletes vying for top honors in the Grand Prix series.
In addition to Xaba's achievement, Janene Carey from Durban marked her 113th Spar Women's race appearance, setting a new benchmark for total appearances in the iconic women-only event. This milestone highlights Carey's dedication and longevity in participating in the series.
The event was part of the broader athletics calendar, which includes various road running competitions. Glenrose Xaba and other athletes will likely continue to compete in upcoming events, further showcasing their skills and vying for top positions in their respective categories.
Key points
- Glenrose Xaba won the Gqeberha 10km Women's Challenge with a time of 31:17.
- Xaba narrowly missed her national record of 31:12 by five seconds.
- The race was dominated by South African runners, with the top three spots secured by Glenrose Xaba, Karabo More, and Selam Gebre.
