The defending champion became the first athlete to win the SPAR Grand Prix four times, with her 89-year-old grandmother there to celebrate the historic victory.
Johannesburg, South Africa (06 October 2026) – Glenrose Xaba had already made history before she even crossed the finish line at Marks Park on Sunday.
The defending champion became the first athlete to win the SPAR Grand Prix four times after powering to victory in the Jozi SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in 32:26.
And waiting for her at the finish was someone who made the moment even more special, her 89-year-old grandmother, Elizabeth Xaba.
It was the first time Elizabeth had watched her granddaughter win a race in person, making the celebrations at the finish line even more memorable.
Xaba was in control almost from the gun, moving to the front early and never giving her rivals much of a chance to close the gap. She eventually finished more than a minute ahead of teammate Karabo More, who crossed the line second in 33:36. Ethiopia’s Selam Gebre of Nedbank finished third in 33:51.
For Xaba, the victory was also the culmination of a season in which she had to pick herself up after an early setback.
“My year didn’t start well, when I lost to Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood AC) in Cape Town, and I had to pick myself up from that disappointment,” she said.
Xaba admitted she was particularly proud to become the first athlete to reach four SPAR Grand Prix titles.
“I am so happy to be the first person to win the SPAR Grand Prix four times,” she said.
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Before then, she will continue racing over shorter distances, including the Hong Kong Half Marathon.
And while she has established herself as the dominant force in the SPAR Grand Prix, Xaba already has her eye on who could take over the crown.
“I think Karabo has a good chance of winning the SPAR Grand Prix next year,” she said.
More certainly strengthened that case on Sunday, claiming her second consecutive runner-up finish after also coming second in Gqeberha last weekend.
The race also carried a much more serious message.
Before the 10km got under way, Gerda Steyn led around 15 000 runners in a moment of silence to honour victims of gender-based violence, with particular focus on fellow runner Elizabeth Moselakgomo.
The 38-year-old whose life was cut while out on a training run. Moselakgomo had taken part in the Jozi SPAR Challenge last year.
The elite runners wore black armbands in her memory.
There was also a major development involving another of South Africa’s top distance runners after the race, when it was revealed that Kavanagh had broken Xaba’s South African 10km record in Romania.
Kavanagh ran 30:50 at the Brasov 10km, taking 22 seconds off Xaba’s previous national mark.
Rather than dwelling on losing her record, Xaba welcomed the challenge.
“I am very happy for Tayla. Records are meant to be broken,” she said.
Xaba has four titles, a victory in Jozi, and a very special grandmother waiting at the finish line.
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