Glenrose Xaba ready to give others a chance after historic fourth title

By Charles Baloyi
4th October 2026

Glenrose Xaba says she is ready to give other runners a chance to make their mark after making history as the most successful athlete in the Spar Women’s 10km Grand Prix series.

The 31-year-old Boxer Running Club star secured her fourth series title after winning the final leg at Marks Park Sports Centre on Sunday.

Xaba crossed the finish line in 32:26 to win the race and collect the R203 000 prize for claiming the series title.

Her clubmate Karabo More finished second in 33:36, while Ethiopia’s Salem Gabre was third in 33:51.

Xaba won the Tshwane, Gqeberha and Joburg legs, finished second in Cape Town and missed the Durban race because of an international competition.

Her fourth title takes her past three-time winners Irvette Van Zyl, Rene Kalmer and Ethiopian Tadu Nare.

Despite her historic achievement, Xaba says she is not chasing a fifth title next year and wants to focus on longer distances while giving younger runners an opportunity.

“For next year, I think that I will give others a chance. It’s up to them, and I think Karabo is in a position where she can win it,” Xaba told SABC Sport.

“As for me, next year I am focusing on the half-marathon and marathon, and I am being serious. I think I will do Tshwane and Joburg because I will be recovering from a marathon next year.

“We have a few good runners who can push to win the series next year. My focus is not on winning a fifth title.”

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Xaba also revealed that she and her coaches, Caster and Violet Semenya, made a deliberate decision to focus on the 10km and half-marathon this year instead of running a marathon.

“Me and my coaches decided that I should focus on the World Road Running Championships in Denmark and the shorter-distance races, including the Grand Prix series, where I have won my fourth title,” she said.

“Next year, we will focus on the marathon. I think it will be the Cape Town Marathon so that I can qualify for the World Senior Championships in Beijing and also push for the Olympic Games.”

With four Grand Prix titles already under her belt, Xaba is now setting her sights on bigger challenges.