Xaba eighth to claim Grand Prix

Consistency in series pays off

Glenrose Xaba has become the eighth athlete to win the coveted Spar Women’s 10km Challenge Grand Prix, finishing the 2018 series in style with a total of 104 points.

Xaba, 23, of the Boxer Club won the Pretoria Challenge, finished second in three races – Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban – and came fourth in Johannesburg. She and three other runners, including last year’s Grand Prix winner, were disqualified in the Pietermaritzburg race for taking the wrong route, but this did not prevent her from winning the title, with prize money of R185 000.

Xaba joins superstars like Poppy Mlambo, Rene Kalmer, Mapaseka Makhanya, Irvette van Zyl, the Phalula twins Diana-Lebo and Lebogang, and lasy year’s Kesa Moletsane.

“I am very happy to have won the Grand Prix,” she said.

“The prize money is very important, but what is more important is that I feel very humbled to be ranked alongside runners like Kesa and Irvette.

“I am proud of what I have achieved,” said Xaba.

Her runner-up Rudo Mhonderwa of Zimbabwe, did not have podium finishes, but earned 97 points and R60 000 for finishing fourth three times, fifth once and sixth twice. Third was Rutendo Nyahora, with 92 points.