ATHLETICS MEDIA RELEASE
SUNDAY, 05 OCTOBER 2025
GLENROSE XABA STORMS TO VICTORY IN SPAR WOMEN’S CHALLENGE
- Glenrose Xaba wins a full house of five SPAR Grand Prix races in 2025
Johannesburg: Glenrose Xaba left the rest of the field standing as she stormed to victory in the Jozi SPAR Women’s 10 km Challenge at Marks Park Sports Club in Emmerentia on Sunday in 33:07 minutes.
Ethiopian Diniya Abaraya (Nedbank) was second in 33:42 and Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood) was third in 34:35.
Van Zyl shot into the lead at the start of the race but dropped back quickly, leaving Xaba to run with Abraya and her Ethiopian teammate Selam Gebre. But by the six-kilometre mark, Xaba was essentially running on her own.
“Irvette got us to a very fast start, and I am grateful for that. Then Selam and Diniya forced the pace until about four kilometres,” said Xaba.
“From six kilometres, I just focused on my splits and on my own running,” she said.
“I am very happy to be the first South African to win all five SPAR Grand Prix races this year, and to have won the SPAR Grand Prix for the third time.”
Abaraya said she felt she had improved with every SPAR race she had run this year.
“I had a good race today, although I found the hills very challenging,”: she said.
Van Zyl, who has three SPAR Grand Prix titles to her name, said she was very happy to be back on the podium.
“I went into the race with no expectations. I felt horrible yesterday and even wondered if I would be able to run. I just wanted to do my best.”
Van Zyk said she was amazed at how the bar was raised in the SPAR Women’s Challenge series every year. “Glenrose has given everyone the belief thar they can do better, and I think the international athletes will soon struggle to win the SPAR Grand Prix again.,” said Van. Zyl
Gerda Steyn, winner of multiple Comrades and Two Oceans marathons, finished in 11th place. She is currently preparing for the Cape Town marathon in two weeks’ time and was using the race as part of her speed training.
“I always look forward to the SPAR Women’s Jozi race,” she said.
“I love the vibe and the experience of running in a women’s only race, I find lining up with thousands of other women inspirational.”
The race was watched by Deputy Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Peace Mabe, who praised SPAR for its support for women’s sports.
“It’s only through sponsorship that women’s sports will flourish, she said.,
“I would like to congratulate SPAR for their support for women’s road running and netball, but also for their campaigns to end gender-based violence and period poverty.”
A capacity twelve thousand runners took part in the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge and 5km Fun Run
End.
SPAR WOMEN’S 10KM CHALLENGE JOZI RESULTS
Results from the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge run at Marks Park Sports Club on Sunday
Open: 1. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) 33:07; 2. Diniya Abaraya (Nedbank) 33:42; 3. Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood) 34:35; 4. Selam Gebre (Nedbank) 34:49; 5. Karabo Mailula (Tuks) 35:04; 6. Karabo More (Boxer) 35:22; 7. Mildred Kinyanja (Nedbank) 35:39; 8. Nyaingiri Kemuntu (Nedbank) 35:41; 9. Olga Firsova (Ind) 36P05; 10 Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer) 36:14
Junior: 1. Taya Pelser (Boxer0\ 39:00; 2. Chanell Groenewalt (Boxer) 39:54; 3. Andrea Steynberg (NWU) 40:04
40-49: 1. Olga Firsova (Ind) 36:05; Elizabeth Chenweno (Nedbank) 38:03; 3. Leilani Scheffe (Boxer) 39:32
50-59 1. Elizabeth Potter (Boxer) 43:05; 2. Salome Cooper (Jeppe Quondam) 43:34; 3. Anne Stewart (Atlantic) 43:44
60-69 1. Judy Bird (Boxer) 43:46; Ezna Flattery (Nedbank) 47:14; 3. Grace de Oliviera (Maxed Elite) 49:19
70-79: 1. Winnie Koekemoer (Team Vitality) 59:59; Annatjie Greyvenstein (Irene) 1:06:33; 3. Joan de Klerk (Run Zone) 1:09:01
FREE TO USE PICTURES WITH CAPTIONS
Glenrose Xaba bunch – Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) leads the front pack at the 2km mark of the Jozi leg of the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge on Sunday 5 October 2025 at Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg. Xaba leads Kenyan, Nyaingiri Kemunto (Nedbank), Ethiopian Diniya Abaraya (Nedbank), Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood) and Ethiopian Selam Gebre (Nedbank). Xaba won the race in 33:07 to give her a clean sweep of five SPAR Grand Prix races in the 2025 series.
Gerda Steyn Jozi SPAR – South African ultra marathon Queen, Gerda Steyn (Hollywood) finished 11th in the Jozi SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge on Sunday 5 October 2025 at Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg.
SPAR Jozi top three finishers – The top three finishers of the Jozi SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge on Sunday 5 October 2025 at Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg are from left second placed Ethiopian Diniya Abaraya (Nedbank), winner Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) and third placed Irvette van Zyl (Hollywood).
Glenrose Xaba winner Jozi SPAR 2 – Race winner Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) left with Peace Mabe, Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture at the finish of the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge on Sunday 5 October 2025 at Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg. Xaba won the race in 33:07 to give her a clean sweep of five SPAR Grand Prix races in the 2025 series.
Glenrose Xaba winner Jozi SPAR 1 – Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) wins the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge on Sunday 5 October 2025 at Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg. Xaba won the race in 33:07 to give her a clean sweep of five SPAR Grand Prix races in the 2025 series.
Hyundai Exter winner 1- Keisha Alexander is the lucky winner of a Hyundai Exter. Keisha of Florida, Roodepoort was drawn from 12 000 entries at the 2025 SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi on Saturday 5 October 2025 held at Marks Park Sports Club in Emmerentia. Pictured with the winner is Thabo Sekgantso, Dealer Principal of Hyundai Randburg.
Hyundai Exter winner 2- Keisha Alexander is the lucky winner of a Hyundai Exter. Keisha of Florida, Roodepoort was drawn from 12 000 entries at the 2025 SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi on Saturday 5 October 2025 held at Marks Park Sports Club in Emmerentia.
Photo credit- Reg Caldecott / Gallo Images
