Glenrose Xaba determined to secure Spar Grand Prix title

Xaba goes into the final race second on the standings with 89 points, 10 points behind leader Cacisile Sosibo, who has 99 points.

With R203 000 and the series title at stake, Xaba knows exactly what she needs to do.

A victory would see her overtake Sosibo and make history as the most successful runner in the competition.

The Boxer Athletics Club runner is currently tied on three Grand Prix titles with Rene Kalmer, Irvette Van Zyl and Ethiopia’s Tadu Nare.

Xaba has enjoyed a strong season, winning back-to-back races in Tshwane and Gqeberha after finishing second in Cape Town. She missed the Durban leg while competing internationally.

“I am pushing to win the series, and I want to do it not just for me but for everyone, including my coaches and young athletes,” Xaba told SABC Sport.

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“The Spar race is close to my heart and it’s important that I compete and try to win the race by a bonus point.”

Sosibo, meanwhile, will need to finish in the top three while hoping Xaba has a difficult race if she is to hold on to the lead and claim her maiden Grand Prix title.

The half-marathon champion is yet to finish on the podium this season, recording fourth, fifth and seventh place finishes in her four races.

Four-time Soweto Marathon winner van Zyl, who has competed in the Spar series for 25 years, believes Xaba has played a major role in raising the standard of South African road running.

“I remember how we struggled to run sub-32 minutes while battling against foreign runners, but when Glenrose came in, she started to believe and became consistent with running sub-32 minutes,” said van Zyl.

“I believe she is getting closer to a sub-31-minute run. We should credit her for the way the standard of road running has improved in the country.

“She went to the World Road Running Championships, finished 13th in the 21km and still came back to win the race in Gqeberha. That shows maturity and consistency.”

For Xaba, Sunday presents an opportunity to cap a memorable season by adding another Spar Grand Prix title to her growing list of achievements.