South African long-distance running sensation Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) has etched her name permanently into the athletics history books.

By dominating the Jozi SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge at Marks Park Sports Club, Xaba officially clinched her fourth overall SPAR Grand Prix title, making her the first athlete in the history of the prestigious series to achieve this monumental milestone.

The victory capped off a remarkable, hard-fought season for Xaba, who had to bounce back from an early-season setback in Cape Town before sweeping through subsequent legs with trademark tactical brilliance and blistering acceleration.

A dominant run to immortality

Entering the final Johannesburg leg with fierce determination, Xaba shot to the front from the starting gun and never looked back. Crossing the finish line in a stellar time of 32:26, she finished more than a minute ahead of her Boxer teammate Karabo More, who secured second place in 33:36, with Ethiopian contender Selam Gebre (Nedbank) rounding out the podium in third.

For Xaba, the triumph was made infinitely more special by the presence of her 89-year-old grandmother, Elizabeth Xaba, who watched her win a live race for the very first time. The emotional finish-line embrace provided a poignant highlight to a historic morning of elite South African sport.

Celebrating excellence and a mega payday

The historic achievement culminated at a glittering awards ceremony in Parktown, Johannesburg, where Xaba was rewarded for her consistency and excellence with a massive payday, taking home R320,000 in prize money for her record-breaking fourth series crown.

Reflecting on her milestone achievement, an emotional Xaba emphasised her desire to pave the way for others. “I want to inspire young runners. I want them to think, ‘If Glenrose can do it, so can I,’” she shared.

Athletics South Africa representatives and event organisers lauded her unmatched determination, noting that her legacy continues to raise the competitive bar for women’s road running across the continent. With her sights now firmly set on upcoming international marathon challenges, Xaba leaves behind a peerless standard in the SPAR Grand Prix history books.

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