Glenrose Xaba Bids For Third Spar Grand Prix Title
Cape Town, South Africa: Defending champion Glenrose Xaba's bid to become the fourth athlete to win the SPAR Grand Prix three times got off to a good start with her victory in the first SPAR Women's 10km Challenge in Cape Town on Sunday.
Glenrose XabaThe Boxer runner won the race in 33:13 to earn 20 points for the victory and five bonus points. She is just one point ahead of the Ethiopian Nedbank runner, Salem Gebre, who also earned five bonus points. They were the only senior runners to earn bonus points.
Last year, Xaba won maximum bonus points in all her races. Her slower time on Sunday may have been the result of a 30-minute delay at the start of the race, for safety reasons.
She said after the race that she was disappointed with her time.
"We stood too long at the start and my muscles were very stiff and my body didn't respond well. But I am happy that I was able to keep my focus and win the race."
Xaba's training partner, Karabo Mailula, is in third position on the log with 17 points.
Former SPAR Grand Prix winner, Lebo Phalula, is in fourth place, with 16. Phalula's excellent run in Cape Town puts her top of the 40-49 age group one point ahead of SPAR Grand Prix debutant, Olga Firsova (Australia) who was also a top ten finisher on Sunday in eighth place overall.
Capetonian, Anne Stewart (Atlantic Athletics Club) leads the 50-59 age group with evergreen Judy Bird (Boxer) topping the 60+ age group a point ahead of Grace De Oliveira (Maxed Elite). Both Bird and De Oliveira earned bonus pints in Cape Town.
SPAR GRAND PRIX Points after Cape Town 2025
The junior section leaderboard is headed by Wiepke Schoeman (Boxer).
The next SPAR Women's 10km Grand Prix will be run in Durban on Sunday June 22.
