The Spar Grand Prix 2024 had its first South African winner in five years after the race was previously dominated by foreign competitors.
Glenrose Xaba won the opening race for the 2024 edition of the popular 10km women’s event in Cape Town on Sunday, 24 March 2024, as reported by IOL.
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Xaba, who had previously been a ‘champion of the Series back in 2018’, won by seven seconds in a time of 32:17.
Her victory was made all the more special by the fact she was the first South African runner to win a Spar Grand Prix race in five years.
In the five years, the top spots in ‘all races around the country’ were occupied by Tadu Nare from Ethiopia or Namibia’s Helalia Johannes. Xaba would make the top 3 spot, regularly finishing third.
This year, as Xaba would take the first place, Diniya Kedir Abraya from Ethiopia would finish in second place, while Getenesh Agafaw would finished third, with a time of 33:02.
‘It was a good race and it went according to the plan I had discussed with my coach,’ said Xaba.
‘I’ve been working hard on my finishing speed which helped in the end, and I was very excited to get the win,’ she added.
Four more races remain in Durban, Tshwane, Johannesburg and Gqeberha, before the champion is crowned.
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Picture: SPAR Grand Prix Series / Facebook