Latest news with #GlenroseXaba
The Citizen
02-08-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Glenrose Xaba in tough battle with Ethiopian rivals, but does it again in SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane
Glenrose Xaba in tough battle with Ethiopian rivals, but does it again in SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane The crown of champion of the SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane, the fifth race in the 2025 SPAR Grand Prix, still sits firmly on the head of a local Pretoria athlete. Glenrose Xaba of the Boxer club not only successfully defended her title as winner of the SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane on Saturday at the SuperSport Park Stadium in Centurion, but also proved that she currently has no equal over the 10km distance in South Africa. Xaba crossed the finish line in 32:39, which is 0.14s faster than her winning time in the same race last year. However, she was in a tough battle with Ethiopian Diniya Abaraya (Nedbank), who kept pace with her until the end, taking second place in 32:41. Another Ethiopian, Selam Gebre, also in the colours of Nedbank, finished third in a time of 33:17. 19-year-old Wiepke Schoeman, a former student of Hoërskool Zwartkop in Centurion, was the first junior athlete to cross the finish line in a time of 38:16. Xaba, probably Pretoria's biggest road racing star at the moment, is aiming to become the third South African and first black runner to win the SPAR Grand Prix Series title three times. She earned the top spot on the podium in the SPAR Grand Prix for the third time this year, after also winning in Cape Town in March and in Durban in June. She also won her sixth South African half marathon title a week ago. 'I would like to thank my coach, Violet Raseboya, and my mentor, Caster Semenya. They help me in so many ways, keeping me injury free and working out strategies for me,' Xaba said after the race. She thanked the Ethiopian and Kenyan runners for pushing South African runners to do better. 'They are making us competitive internationally,' said Xaba. Xaba said she hoped her success would encourage the next generation of South African runners. 'They can see my success and believe they can succeed too,' she said. The two Ethiopians both expressed their admiration for Xaba. 'I am amazed at how powerful she is, taking the lead from the start and staying there,' said Abaraya. She said she had found the hilly course very challenging. Former three times SPAR Grand Prix winner Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood) surprised everyone when she shot into the lead at the start of the race, but the four front runners dropped her at the two-kilometre mark and ran together for the next five kilometres, when Xaba surged into the lead. She appeared to be well ahead of the two Ethiopians, but they made up lost ground and nearly caught her on the finish line. Xaba admitted later that she had been taken by surprise. 'I thought I had dropped them, so I wasn't aware how close they were,' she said. Van Zyl said she was very excited about the young runners who were making their mark in South African road running. The Olympic athlete from Pretoria said that she only used the race to test the progress in her recovery process after the Comrades marathon in June, where she took sixth place in her debut and finished in 6 hours, 11 minutes. She then told the media, much to their amusement, that she actually wanted to finish sixth because her 6-year-old son had finished sixth in a cross-country event earlier in the week and was very proud of it. This sparked a family conversation and she didn't want to do worse than her son's sixth place. 'I am also so thrilled to see a South African winning again. I have watched Glenrose since she started and I am so impressed by her,' said Van Zyl. The sell-out SPAR Women's Tshwane Challenge had 17 000 participants. The event was held in slightly cooler weather this year than in previous years, but there was no shortage of enthusiasm and colourful merriment. Old and young, fit and less fit, as well as the traditional men who turned up in skirts and wigs for the women's Challenge – all in good spirits and for a good cause – took over the streets of Centurion around the SuperSport Park. What a finish! 🌟 Huge congratulations to our 5km winner, crossing the line in style and absolutely thriving! 💚 You set the pace for an incredible day at Tshwane's most beautiful road race! 🏅#SPARWomensTshwane #Twenty20Thrive — SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane (@SPARWomensPta) August 2, 2025 ****************************************** Full results of the SPAR Women's 10km Challenge run at SuperSport Park on Saturday: Open category: 1. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) 32:39; 2. Diniya Abaraya (Nedbank0 32:41; 3. Selam Gebre (Nedbank) 33:17; 4, Debrah Cherotich (Nedbank) 33:17; 5. Karabo More (Boxer) 34:03; 6. Nicola Jansen (Boxer) 34:16; 7. Karabo Mailula (Tuks) 34:34; 8. Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood) 34:42; 9. Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer) 34:55; 10. Carina Swiggers (Boxer) 36:12 Junior category: 1. Wiepke Schoeman (Boxer) 38:16; 2. Taya Pelser (Boxer) 38:59; 3. Chanel Groenewald (Boxer) 39:45 Category 40-49: 1. Leilani Scheffer (Boxer) 39:40; 2. Jeannie Henderson (Nedbank) 39:46; Steyn (Trivium) 40:09 Category 50-59: 1. Elizabeth Potter (Boxer) 4:49; 2. Anne Stewart (Atlantic) 42:51; S3. Salome Cooper (Jeppe Quondam) 43:14 Category 60-69: 1. Judy Bird (Boxer) 43:00; 2. Gail Babich (Savages) 47:01; 3. Dalene Sonnekus (Nedbank) 48:12 Category 70+: 1. Winnie Koekemoer (Team Vitality) 01:01:16; 2. Annatje Greyvenstein 01:06:22; 3. Lettie Coetzee (Pretoria Bobbies) 01:14:43 Huge congratulations to the top 3 finishers of the 10km! 💪 🥇Glenrose Xaba 🥈Dinaya Abaraya 🥉Selam Gebre You gave it your all & crushed it out there! 🎉 Well done to each of you!#SPARWomensTshwane #Twenty20Thrive — SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane (@SPARWomensPta) August 2, 2025 Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
The Citizen
02-08-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Mosiako and Xaba win Foskor Half Marathon
PHALABORWA – The F21 Foskor Half Marathon, this year sanctioned by Athletics South Africa (Asa) Road Running Championships, delivered excitement, records, and unforgettable moments on Saturday, July 26. The event, hosted at the Foskor Community Centre, drew a massive crowd of enthusiastic community members who cheered on South Africa's best athletes in a joyous atmosphere. Thabang Mosiako and Glenrose Xaba emerged as the stars of the event, clinching national titles in the men's and women's half marathon races and walking away with impressive cash prizes. Both athletes were rewarded with R50 000 from Foskor and an additional R50 000 from Asa for their victories. M O S I A K O Mosiako, representing Athletics Central North-West, blazed through the course in a record-breaking time of 01:02:47, finishing well ahead of his competitors. 'I am overwhelmed and excited. I want to thank everybody who supported me, including Tumisang Monatlala, my wife Thandi Mosiako, and Nedbank Running Club. Last year was very tough with multiple injuries, but now I am back with a bang. The support from the people of Phalaborwa gave me the strength to push through,' said Mosiako. Lesotho's Thomas Lebese followed in second place in the open category with 01:04:00, while Reghan Magwai finished third in 1:04:16, claiming the silver medal in the national championships. Ultra-distance runner Onalenna Khonkhobe took home the bronze with a time of 01:04:17. X A B A In the women's race, Glenrose Xaba, running for Athletics Gauteng North (AGN), continued her dominance over the 21km distance, finishing in 01:10:03, smashing the previous course record held by former world record holder Elana Meyer. Her performance secured her sixth national title in the half-marathon. 'I am feeling very excited and happy. Last year, I had too much on my schedule and could not compete, but this year I returned because it is also part of the Asa championships. The support we receive from Foskor F21 is incredible. They believe in us, and that motivates us to keep running. The love from the community also pushes us to perform at our best,' said Xaba. Neheng Khatala of Lesotho was second in the open race, clocking 01:13:28. Cacisile Sosibo earned silver in the national championship with a time of 01:15:14, while Samantha Coetzer rounded off the podium, taking bronze in 01:22:52. In addition to the main 21km race, the event featured 10km, 5km, and mile races, creating a day of athletic celebration for runners of all levels.
IOL News
27-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Xaba smashes course record, Mosiako reclaims title at national half-marathon championships
Glenrose Xaba broke the course record to win the national half-marathon title at the ASA Road Running Championships in Phalaborwa. Image: Athletics South Africa Glenrose Xaba broke the course record to win the national half-marathon title at the ASA Road Running Championships in the Limpopo heat on Saturday, extending her dominance in the race. Thabang Mosiako also delivered a stunning performance to win the men's title in the event in Namakgale, Phalaborwa, which was incorporated into the annual Foskor Half-Marathon. Xaba earned her sixth national title over the 21km distance in the colours of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN). She completed the race in 1:10:03, breaking former world record holder Elana Meyer's course record and finishing more than three minutes clear of Lesotho's Neheng Khatala, who was second in the open race in a time of 1:13:28. Cacisile Sosibo grabbed the silver medal in the national championship contest in 1:15:14, and Samantha Coetzer secured bronze in 1:22:52. 'This race is always run under hot conditions (in Phalaborwa), but it was warm today, but the conditions were not as bad as they can get here,' Xaba said. 'It motivated me to break Elana Meyer's record because I was inspired by her achievements, and I wished one day I could break her records.' Mosiako was also superb, coasting to a comfortable victory in the men's 21km race. He stopped the clock at 1:02:47 to reclaim the SA title he won in 2023, leading an Athletics Central North West (ACNW) sweep of the podium. Mosiako finished well clear of the rest of the field, with Thomas Lebese of Lesotho taking second place in the open race in a time of 1:04:00. Reghan Magwai was third overall in 1:04:16, taking the runner-up spot in the national championships, while ultra-distance specialist Onalenna Khonkhobe earned the bronze medal after clocking 1:04:17. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Thabang Mosiako delivered a stunning performance to win the men's national half-marathon title at the ASA Road Running Championships in Namakgale, Phalaborwa, on Saturday. Image: Athletics South Africa 'After I won in 2023, a rough patch followed me. So, I'm happy with my comeback and I can see the way forward. I think after today I will have that confidence again,' said Mosiako. 'The conditions were not bad because I've been training in Potchefstroom where it's quite hot, so I came here ready for this race.' In other events at the ASA Road Running Championships, Kabelo Mulaudzi won gold for Central Gauteng Athletics in the men's five-kilometre race in 14:00. Musawenkosi Mnisi (AGN) took second place in 14:09, and Jerry Motsau (ACNW) was third in 14:17. In the women's five-kilometre battle, Karabo More (AGN) triumphed in 16:37, with Zanthe Taljaard securing the silver medal for Athletics Vaal Triangle (AVT) in 16:56, and Busisiwe Chamane taking bronze in 17:19 in the colours of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA). Over the mile (1.609km) distance, Boikanyo Motlhamme (CGA) charged to victory in 4:02, and Tshegofatso Pilane (AGN) earned silver in 4:03. Ryan Mphahlele (CGA), who also clocked 4:03, finished third. Carmie Prinsloo (AGN) won the women's mile in 4:41, with Ntsoaki Molahloe (KZNA) taking second position in 4:46, and Andrea Steynberg (ACNW) hanging on for bronze in 4:50.
IOL News
25-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Glenrose Xaba gunning for whopping sixth national half-marathon title in a row
Glenrose Xaba finished fifth at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on July 13 in a time of 31:50. Glenrose Xaba will chase her sixth national half-marathon title in a row for Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) as part of a star-studded field at the ASA Road Running Championships in Namakgale, Phalaborwa, on Saturday. Men's defending champion Elroy Gelant will also be among the pre-race favourites in the half-marathon that is incorporated into the F21 Half-Marathon. Xaba was the first South African home over the 21.1km distance at last year's national championships in Gqeberha, finishing fourth overall in 1:13:42. Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) athlete Cacisile Sosibo was fifth, in a time of 1:13:51. She is likely to once again be Xaba's strongest challenger. Gelant, who overcame tough conditions to win the SA men's title in Gqeberha last year, will be joined in the line-up by Athletics Central North West (ACNW) teammate Thabang Mosiako, also a former national champion. They are up against a field that also includes in-form athlete Bennet Seloyi, representing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA). Xaba holds the national marathon and 10km records on the road, as well as the 5 000m and 10 000m records on the track. The multi-talented star is also eyeing ranking points in her bid to qualify for the track 5 000m and 10 000m at the World Championships in Tokyo in September. The ASA Road Running Championships will also be key to national marathon record holder Gelant's build-up to the world champs. He has made clear his ambition to grab a podium finish at the Tokyo showpiece, after finishing in eleventh place in the marathon at the Paris Olympics.
IOL News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Glenrose Xaba falls short of national record after finishing fifth at Absa Durban 10K
Glenrose Xaba finished fifth at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on Sunday morning in a time of 31:50. Photo: Kevin Sawyer Image: Kevin Sawyer Glenrose Xaba was unable to reach her target of breaking the national 10km record at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on Sunday morning, yet still managed to dip below 32 minutes as the first South African home in the elite women's race. The in-form Boxer Athletics Club star finished fifth, behind a quartet of Kenyan runners, in a time of 31:50. The women's race was won by Claire Ndiwa in 30:50, with Janet Mulungi second (30:53) after a thrilling sprint finish. Early frontrunner Jesca Chelangat was dropped in the final kilometre and had to settle for third (30:58), while Rebecca Mwangi came home fourth (31:13). Clare Ndiwa of Kenya crosses the finish line first at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on Sunday morning. Image: Anthony Grote Much of the pre-race hype focused on Xaba's attempt to better her national record of 31:12, set at last year's event. However, she blamed changes to the course layout for her inability to do so. 'The pace was okay at the beginning, or first kilometre, but when we reached 6km the course changed too much. There were lots more hills than last year,' she said at the finish on the promenade at Sunkist Beach. 'Last year's course was fast, but this year it was very challenging because there are many climbs. Three climbs take a lot off the speed – four climbs, actually. It's not that course we were expecting from last year. They said it's fast, but it's a bit tough.' Still, the time was an impressive one from South Africa's current 10km queen, who dipped under 32 minutes for the third time this year. It also marked a notable improvement on the 31:54 she clocked at the SPAR Women's 10km Challenge in Durban on 22 June. Absa Durban 10K elite women's race winner Clare Ndiwa (centre) is flanked on the left by third-place finisher Jesca Chelangat, and runner-up Janet Mutungi on her right. Image: Action Photo Asked what it would take to get closer to her record, Xaba said: 'A course that is flat from start to finish, with no climbs. If the course was like last year, all of us were going to run very good times, but I think we slowed down.' The multi-talented 30-year-old was also chasing ranking points in her bid to qualify for the track 5 000m and 10 000m events at the World Championships in Tokyo in September. 'I think this race won't be good for my ranking,' she admitted. 'It was very tough for me. My legs were not responding well in the last 3km. If my legs were responding well, I think I would have run faster.' Xaba refused to blame fatigue from a busy race schedule. 'I don't feel that tired. I'm basing my training more on mileage than speed. My legs just couldn't cope when it came to the hills. I think the hills affected me. I'm used to running flat,' she said. She is now hoping to secure more 5 000m races to improve her strong ranking in that event, as she feels better placed to qualify for the World Championships in the shorter distance than in the 10 000m.
