ATHLETICS MEDIA RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2024
XABA SET TO MAKE HISTORY IN SPAR GRAND PRIX
Johannesburg, South Africa: Glenrose Xaba’s victory in the Gqeberha SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge last Saturday means she will become the first South African to win the SPAR Grand Prix since the series was opened to international athletes in 2019. Xaba, who runs for Boxer, has a near perfect score of 119 points, after winning every race apart from the Durban Challenge. She earned maximum bonus points in all the races and there is no other runner who can pass her on the SPAR Grand Prix ladder.
After her stunning victory over three-times SPAR Grand Prix winner Tadu Nare (Nedbank) in Tshwane last month, Xaba let it be known that she was determined to become the first South African to win the overall title since international athletes were admitted.
“I won it in 2018, and I want to win it again,” she said.
She will have a real cash bonanza – the winner of the SPAR Grand Prix receives prize money of R200 000. In addition, Xaba will receive R75 000 for being the top South African, and she will also have the use of a Proton X50 SUV for a year.
With Xaba having clinched the SPAR Grand Prix, the battle will now be on for second place and R100 000 prize money. Nare’s fellow Ethiopian teammate Diniya Abaraya is currently in second position, with 84 points, two points ahead of Nare. Abaraya beat Nare in Gqeberha on Saturday, but Nare was still recovering from winning the R1-million Mbombela Marathon a week earlier.
Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer) is in line to finish as the second South African on the log and could earn prize money of R50 000. She has 72 points and could be pipped at the post if former SPAR Grand Prix winner Diana-Lebo Phalula-Mzazi (Boxer) or Karabo Mailula (Tuks) beat her in the Jozi Challenge on October 6. They are currently tied on 53 points each.
Phalula-Mzazi appears set to win the 40-49 category – she has 39 category points, two ahead of her twin, Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli.
The fifth and final race in the SPAR Grand Prix series will be run at Marks Park Sporting Club in Johannesburg on Sunday October 6.
ENDS.
FREE TO USE PICTURES
Please see attached free to use pictures with caption below.
Glenrose Xaba Grand Prix 1: South African Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) leads Ethiopians Tadu Nare and Diniya Abaraya both of Nedbank during the Gqeberha leg (Saturday, 21 September) of the 2024 SPAR Grand Prix. The 10km race was won by Xaba, 31:22 ahead of second placed Abaraya and third place Nare. Xaba leads the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard going into the final race of the season on Sunday, 6 October in Johannesburg.
Glenrose Xaba Grand Prix 2: South African Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) in the middle leads the pack at the start of the Gqeberha leg (Saturday, 21 September) of the 2024 SPAR Grand Prix. The 10km race was won by Xaba, 31:22. Xaba leads the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard going into the final race of the season on Sunday, 6 October in Johannesburg.
Glenrose Xaba Grand Prix 3: From left South African Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) runs shoulder to shoulder with Ethiopians Tadu Nare and Diniya Abaraya both of Nedbank during the Gqeberha leg (Saturday, 21 September) of the 2024 SPAR Grand Prix. The 10km race was won by Xaba, 31:22 ahead of second placed Abaraya and third place Nare. Xaba leads the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard going into the final race of the season on Sunday, 6 October in Johannesburg.
Glenrose Xaba Grand Prix 4: The top 3 finishers in the Gqeberha leg (Saturday, 21 September) of the 2024 SPAR Grand Prix. South African Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) middle won the race with Ethiopians Diniya Abaraya (left) in second place and Tadu Nare(right) in third place of Nedbank. Xaba leads the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard going into the final race of the season on Sunday, 6 October in Johannesburg.
Photo Credit: Micheal Sheehan / Gallo Images
