'I'm certain to make it' - Xaba targets World champs after victory at SPAR GRAND PRIX in DURBAN

South African road running star Glenrose Xaba continued her fine form clocking a fantastic 31:54 to win the Durban leg of the SPAR Women's 10km race today (Sunday 22 June) at the Hollywoodbets King's Park Stadium outer fields. Xaba took the lead just after the 4km, following an early move by Xcel Running Club runner Bathobile Mkhize who surprised the field by charging ahead to lead the race until the 3km mark. Xaba never relinquished that lead and went on to win the Durban race for the first time in her decorated career. Supercharge as she is affectionately known, was followed closely by Ethiopians Diniya Abaraya (32:08) and Selam Gebre in (32:24). 

Today’s performance was Xaba's second sub 32 minute clocking of 2025 and also the third consecutive year that she has dipped under 32 minutes in Durban. The race proved to be fast too as all top 10 ladies dipped under 35 minutes. Speaking to the TopRunner, the 30-year-old Xaba has thank God for finally winning a race following finishing second to Ethiopian Tadu Nare in the past two seasons.

Xaba won her career first Durban SPAR Grand Prix 10km race on Sunday 22 June 2025 held at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium. Xaba won in 31.54. Photo Credit: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images.

"I'm so happy to win the Durban race as in the past I have finished second. Before the race, I prayed to God to guide me in order to have a good race. To be able to finally do it, makes me happy," said an elated Xaba.

"At the start of the race, I did well to maintain the pace. What I noticed is that in the first 3km, the pace was a bit slow. Then I decided to move. When I reached 4km, I started to control the pace more because I noticed that the weather conditions were cool and allowed us to run a bit fast. Even the wind, I only experienced it in the last 2km. Overall, I'm happy that God answered my prayers to be able to win here,” she told #TheTopRunner.

Xaba leads Ethopian's Nedbank Running Club pair of Selem Gebre and Diniya Abaraya at the 6km mark. Photo Credit: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images.

Now the Boxer Athletic Club top runner will turn her focus to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on 13 July and qualifying for the 5000m or 10 000m at the World Championship to be held in Tokyo, Japan. She has already secured her marathon ticket following an impressive 2:22:22 clocking to win Cape Town Marathon on debut last October.

"I'm still planning to qualify over the 5 000m and 10 000m which is why I'm still looking to get a fast race over the distance. I know I have already done it with the marathon but my focus is more on the track. In the end, If I fail then I'll go the marathon. I know with my world ranking points, I'm certain to make it to Tokyo which means I have to run well in the next month's Absa RUN YOUR CITY Durban to earn more points," she concluded.