Xaba eyes podium at Marks Park

Xaba eyes podium at Marks Park

SA middle-distance runner Glenrose Xaba is hoping for a change of fortune in the Johannesburg edition of the Spar Grand Prix Women™s 10km Series at Marks Park in Emmarentia on Sunday.

The six-race series goes into its penultimate race with international runners dominating the leaderboard - Ethiopians Tadu Nare and Salem Gabre are first and second respectively, with veteran Namibian Helalia Johannes in fourth place.

South Africa™s Kesa Molotsane is in fourth place while Xaba is down in ninth, having raced just twice - in Mbombela and Tshwane, finishing fourth in both races.

She was beaten out of the podium places at the Tshwane race in August by Irvette van Zyl who overtook her in the last 400m, but Xaba hopes for a good race in Joburg given her history of poor performances at Marks Park.

œIt was so very painful in Pretoria when Irvette passed me with 400m to go. I think it was because my legs were tired and had lactic acid because I had raced [in another event] at higher altitude and it was very hot.

So, when Irvette passed me, I just said, ˜Ag, it™s fine. Number four is good for me, but eish, I™ll be happy if I can finish on the podium in Joburg - but Joburg doesn™t like me, especially in the Spar 10km Grand Prix Series.

œWhen it comes to Joburg Spar, I don™t perform like Glenrose, I always get number five or number four. But to get a podium finish will be good for me, it will motivate me ahead of the Spar final.

By Charles Baloyi