Glenrose Xaba aims for golden finish to a near-perfect season

Glenrose Xaba has had a stellar season, winning just about every race she has entered. Early next week, she will be officially crowned the queen of the popular SPAR Grand Prix Series for the second year running.

She would love nothing more than to go to the awards ceremony on the back of yet another victory — this time in the inaugural Boxer Super Run Joburg taking place on Sunday at Marks Park. The fact that the race is organised by her club, Boxer Athletic Club, will make the victory all the more special, as she will be completing a hat-trick of success.

Xaba has won this year’s Durban leg of the popular 5km race — her second win there after she was crowned champion in the inaugural race in 2023. She was also victorious in the first and only Tshwane race held at Tuks last year. Logic suggests she has to be the first winner of the Joburg leg, a result that would cement her status as one of the country’s best runners ever.

“Winning in Joburg would complete a special streak — taking gold at all three debuts would be something I’m really proud of,” she confirms. “Each race has its own challenges, so to come out on top again would be a great reward for all the hard work and consistency my team and I have put in.

"The event’s R147k combined prize purse is amazing! It shows that Boxer truly values and invests in athletes. That kind of prize money motivates us to give our absolute best and helps us continue building our careers as professional runners. It’s great to see such strong support for road running in South Africa.”

A holder of numerous national titles and records, Xaba is growing in leaps and bounds in the sport — having shone on the track, in cross-country and on the road.

Xaba will not have it easy, though, with the likes of Cian Oldknow and her Boxer AC teammate Karabo More in the mix.

“My goal is always to run my best race — to stay focused, control my pace, and finish strong. Of course, I’ll be aiming for the win, but I also want to execute my race plan well and see how far I can push myself on the day. It will depend on the course and conditions, but I’ll be targeting a fast time, something close to my best. The focus is to stay consistent and run a smart race from start to finish.”

Xaba’s training partner Karabo More says hosting a world-class 5km race backed by Boxer demonstrates their commitment to developing local talent and inspiring more people to get active.

“Hosting the race in Joburg is exciting, as the city has an incredible running culture and energy, so bringing the race here gives more athletes and fans the opportunity to be part of the experience,” she says.

“It also allows us to showcase talent from this region on a bigger stage. I entered because I want to challenge myself and test my fitness against some of the best. The atmosphere around Boxer races is always electric, and it’s a great platform to measure progress and set new personal goals.”

The organisers of the race are anticipating a highly competitive, exciting event.

“We are excited to welcome Glenrose Xaba, Karabo More, Zanthe Taljaart and Cian Oldknow to the Boxer Super Run debut in Joburg,” says Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores.

“The Elite Waves are always a crowd-pleaser — you never quite know what will happen on the day, and the races almost always end in a nail-biting sprint finish. We wish all the elite athletes the very best for race day and encourage the OPEN and SUPER SOCIAL WAVE runners to stick around after their events to cheer on the elites and soak up the incredible atmosphere.

"It promises to be an exciting day of running, competition, and celebration for everyone involved.”