Xaba targets Elana’s longstanding record
Focus is on Spar series for now
Glenrose Xaba is a dark horse in this year’s Spar Women’s 10km Challenge series.
Not many have taken notice of the pint-sized runner from Embalenhle in Secunda, Mpumalanga, despite her pedigree in track and road competitions
“I guess it’s because I’m shy and I don’t like being in the spotlight,” Xaba told Sowetan after she snatched the runners-up spot in the lucrative women’s event in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.
Had it not been for a nagging hamstring, the 23-year-old was well within the top prize range on Saturday.
Xaba also finished second, behind defending Grand Prix champion Kesa Molotsane, at the opening leg in Cape Town in March.
“My main focus is track with a little bit of road because I want to finish in the top three of the Spar Grand Prix this year. I still believe I’ll win it one day,” said Xaba, who runs in the colours of Boxer Club.
Running never came naturally to her, even though she ranks among SA’s finest runners. “We were forced to do athletics at school. I won a number of races and my teachers convinced me I had the talent,” she said.
Xaba boasts a few national titles in cross country 10km and few international competition appearances to back up her progress.
Her dream is to break Elena Meyer’s SA 10 000m record (30:52.51 set in 1994) and rank top across her specialist events like her idol Caster Semenya.
“I believe I can do it. I also want to be consistent like Caster,” said the Pretoriabased Xaba, who boasts a personal best of 32:59.05.