Coach Caster Semenya accredited with Glenrose Xaba resurgence

Since leaving the Sponge training group under Michael Seme in Tshwane a few years ago, Xaba has bounced back under Semenya and Violet Raseboya’s team – setting a new South African women’s 10km record and winning multiple races. 

Speaking to SABC Sport, Xaba says her new training regimen is helping to restore her confidence.

"So far my career is going very well because I was having ups and downs when I moved from Michael "Sponge" to join Caster," said Xaba.

"Because, as you know, when you change programmes, the athlete starts to change and the body isn't used to the programme, so I think now I'm running better than when I was in Sponge's group."

Xaba is eager to build a successful career under the mentorship of Semenya in Tshwane, and aims to to break the longstanding half-marathon record of 1:06:44, set by her role model Elana Meyer in 1999.

"I'm looking forward to having a good career and achieving those dreams I want to, because I'm not yet where I want to be, I still need to work hard," she added.

"I believe that I'm an athlete that's meant to break the records, and motivate the kids that are coming up. I'm looking forward to having a good half-marathon because, when I run the half-marathon, I know very good.

"Elana taught me when I was young, she said that I'm a person who can break the record, I have a lot of oxygen, and the [further] I go, the faster I become.

"So I believed from that day that I'm meant to do very well in athletics, and also motivate the kids to do well – they should look up to me and tell themselves they can do anything because its possible."

READ: Viwe Jingqi working hard to thrive in athletics at senior level