"I feel blessed" - Xaba dreams of SA Record after clocking 1:07:03 at Istanbul Half Marathon
- Thathe Msimango
- Apr 20
- 2 min read
The mecurial Glenrose Xaba is now the second fastest South African female half marathoner of all time after delivering a remarkable performance at the Instubal Half-Marathon yesterday (Sunday, 19 April). Supercharge finished in third position with a time of 1:07:03. Xaba not only smashed her personal best by 1 minute and 34 seconds she also moved to within 20 seconds of Elana Meyer’s SA Record. Speaking to #TheTopRunner the reigning SA Half Marathon champion credited the competitive field packed with East Africans for her impressive performance.
"The race had a strong field so I knew before I started that there might be a chance for a PB.The race was also well planned and the pace setters knew their job. It was only up to me to fight till the end. I realised that I was on course for 67 minutes during the last 1500m. I’m happy. The podium finish is a bonus because my intention was to run a fast time," said Xaba, who is the SA Marathon record holder.
The Boxer Athletic Club top runner is only the third South African woman after Dominique Scott (1:07:32) and Meyer (1:06:44) to run under 68 minutes for 21km. That run in Turkey has left Xaba optimistic about the possibility of breaking Meyer’s record which has stood since 1999, but is quick to add that breaking the SA Half Marathon record will take time.
"I feel blessed that I have achieved (67 minutes) what we have been working for. Remember that Rome was not built in one day. I still need to master this half marathon distance first before I can think of attempting National Record .
Xaba will now shift her focus to preparing for the World Road Running Championships in Copanhagen in September where she is likely to represent the country in the half marathon. "My focus for the rest of the year is the World half marathon - that's my priority. Then I also run few 10km races just to keep sharpening the speed."
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