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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 Citizen

time6 days ago

  • 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

Centurion athlete continues to seek higher accolades
Centurion athlete continues to seek higher accolades

The Citizen

time03-05-2025

  • Sport
  • The Citizen

Centurion athlete continues to seek higher accolades

Centurion boasts a vast pool of young talent making their mark in sports, and among those rising through the ranks is 21-year-old Riandré Botha. Botha is a dedicated athlete from Highveld whose strength and commitment are propelling her into the national spotlight. Her journey into athletics began at the young age of six. She explained that what initially drew her to athletics, particularly the throwing disciplines, was the sense of personal growth and the satisfaction of seeing hard work translate into tangible performance. 'I participated in sprint races, but I discovered my true passion for throwing events when I turned 13,' she said. 'I love the individual aspect of the sport and being able to see how each competition reflects the effort I've put into my training.' Botha described her neighbourhood as student-friendly and conveniently close to campus, which is especially beneficial for someone like her who is juggling studies and sports. 'I try to attend every class. If I miss a class, I inform my lecturers in advance and make sure to catch up on any missed work. If I don't understand something, I don't hesitate to ask my lecturers for help,' she said. She said balancing athletics with academics hasn't been easy, but she has managed it by staying organised and communicating effectively with her lecturers. 'You're going to have days when it feels like there's no time, but planning ahead makes all the difference.' Botha emphasised that her family, particularly her mother, plays a key role in supporting her dreams. She mentioned that her mom does everything possible to attend competitions and encourages every decision she makes in her athletic journey. 'My mom is very supportive of my athletic decisions,' Botha said. When preparing for major competitions, she trains at Hoërskool Zwartkop and Tuks. However, when she is not busy studying or training, she enjoys coaching, where she mentors both primary and high school students in athletics, netball, and cricket. For her, coaching is another way to give back and stay connected to the sports she loves. Botha draws inspiration from Valarie Allman, one of the world's greatest athletes in the discus. Like her role model, she is steadily building a name for herself. At the recent Athletics South Africa (ASA) Championships, held in Cape Town from March 27 to 29, she won a bronze medal in the Women's U/23 shot put with a throw of 10.60m and a silver in the Women's U/23 discus, setting a new personal best of 43.70m. Botha stated that the build-up to the championships required long hours in the gym and on the field, but she felt confident going into the event due to the effort she had invested. 'Participating in the championships was a culmination of every challenge, throw, and breakthrough. 'It was more than just a title or medal; it was a testament to the commitment, encouragement, and faith that brought me this far,' she explained. She added that her expectations were to achieve a personal best in the discus and win medals in both events. Accomplishing those goals left her feeling proud and hopeful for the future. Following her stellar performance, she was selected to represent the Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) Senior Team at the upcoming ASA Senior Championships, taking place in Potchefstroom from April 24 to 26. 'I just want to keep improving my distance and see the results of the things we've worked on in practice,' she said. Tim Verne, spokesperson for the Newbridge Graduate Institute (NGI) where Botha studies, praised her performance. He noted that her recent achievements are not solely about medals but also about her consistency, discipline, and high standards. 'Her recent triumphs at the ASA Championships have been commendable,' said Verne. 'They serve as an inspiration to her fellow discus team members, competitors, and peers alike.' He added that her commitment to both her education and her sport makes her an ideal role model for others aiming to pursue similar ambitions. 'She's a prime example of the value of education and dedication to self-improvement,' he said. Cisna Botes, principal of NGI, remarked that Riandré's path is a shining example of what can be accomplished with dedication and purpose. 'She stands out for her commitment, perseverance, and passion, and her story is only just beginning,' said Botes. Botha encourages young athletes in Centurion to believe in themselves and never give up, no matter how tough the journey becomes. 'There will be days when it feels like there's no time for everything,' she said, 'but if you plan ahead, there's always a way.' As she looks to the future, Botha has her sights set on winning next year's U/23 ASA Championships, placing in the top eight at the senior level, and ultimately qualifying for the African Championships and the Olympics. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ 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 or TikTok At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

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