On-form Glenrose Xaba can’t stop winning

Xaba, who also won last month’s Tshwane leg, was over a minute faster than Ethiopian runner Desta Debash’s winning time of 33:03 from last year, and earned R30,000 for her Heritage Day efforts. 

She has now completed her seventh 10km win of the year, including last weekend’s Spar Grand Prix in Gqeberha, as well as the national half-marathon title.

"When it comes to this race, I'm very happy to win it because I have been position two from 2022, and my aim was [always] to win the race, but it's so difficult," said Xaba.

"The wind was very strong, but I tried to maintain the pace and drive when it came to the hills, and when it came to the downhills, I just relaxed and moved my legs so that I can be faster."

Xaba praised the strong competition from Blandina Makatisi of Lesotho, who finished second in 34:03, and her training partner Karabo Mailula, who secured third place with a time of 34:14. 

"The competition was very god because we have Makatisi, the Olympian, and Karaba Mailula, my training partner, and we have all those girls that are doing very well," she added.

"I can say the competition was great, and I'm very appreciative of the fact that we have ladies doing so well in the sport."

READ: Xaba moves one step closer to reclaiming her Grand Prix title