"She always believed in me" - Special finish line moment caps Xaba's SPAR Jozi & fourth series victory

As she crossed the finish line to win the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi and with with it an historic fourth SPAR Grand Prix title, Glenrose Xaba was embraced by the woman who inspired her to pursue her running dream in the first place. Adorned in a red dock and traditional red dress, Supercharge’s grandmother 89-year-old Elizabeth Nomalanga Xaba hugged and kissed her child as she stopped the clock in 32:26 at Marks Park in Emmerentia to bring an end to another memorable SPAR 10km season.

Xaba reaches to embrace her grandmother at the finish line after winning the Spar Women's Challenge Jozi on 4 October in Emmerentia. Photo Credit: Reg Caldecott.

“My grandmother is special to me. She is very close to my heart and I am happy that she was here to witness what I do. She has taught me well. She has always believed in me and she continues to motivate me. I love her so much and she loves me too. Having her at the finish line was so special to me because she was able to watch me make history,” said Xaba who used the money she earned for wining the 2024 SPAR Grand Prix title to renovate her grandmother’s home in the Secunda township of Mbalenhle.

Xaba is the first to win four Grand Prix titles since the competition was established. She ran four of the five series races, winning in Tshwane, Gqeberha and Johannesburg to clinch the title after taking second place during the opening race of the SPAR Grand Prix in Cape Town in March.

Xaba dominated the SPAR Women's challenge Jozi. She won by over a minute from runner-up Karabo More. Photo Credit: Reg Caldecott.

This 2026 victory follows hot on the heels of her dominant season during which she won all five individual legs of the Challenge and became the first black woman to win three Grand Prix titles. The fastest South African female marathoner of all time will walk away with a whooping R 210 000 for her efforts after she beat her training partner and fellow Boxer Athletic Club top runner Karabo More into second place (33:36) while Nedbank Running Club’s Selam Gebre took bronze in 33:51.

“I am happy about how the race went but it was difficult. Joburg is so difficult. I was also happy that I got a bonus point. I am grateful because I was able to defend my title, it shows that I am working hard. At the beginning of the year I told myself that I want to be the first to win the Grand Prix for the fourth time. I am glad that I was able to pull through and meet my goal,” says Xaba who earned additional points for running faster than the 33:07 she clocked to win the 2025 edition of the hilly race through the Western parts of the City of Gold

Xaba flanked by runner-up More and third place finisher Selam Gebre of Ethiopia. Photo Credit: Reg Caldecott.

Although she’ll be back again in 2027, Xaba has revealed that she intends to focus on longer distances which could leave the door open for More to claim her very first SPAR Grand Prix title.

“Next year I will give other people a chance to win it but it is up to them. I think Karabo (More) is in a position to win it if she can become serious about winning the Grand Prix. I will be focusing on half marathons and marathons. I think I will only run Tshwane, Gqeberha and Joburg,” says Xaba.