Glenrose Xaba Lives Up To Expectations And Wins Spar Women's 10km Challenge - Cape Town

Glenrose Xaba produced yet another splendid run to win the season-opening race of the SPAR Grand Prix Series as she looks for a third title in the countrys most popular womens 10km challenge.

The race was a little bit tight but it was a great race and I cant complain much. I am still learning how to learn the road Semenya having run on the track all her career. But I am happy with a 36 and I am hoping to get to the 34s, Semenya said in a post-race interview.

It is great to be able to mentor women like Glenrose Xaba and as a mentor and coach. I am fulfilled to see her winning. Shes a phenomenal hard worker, lots of discipline and very talented.

That talent was evident on the road this morning as Xaba led from the onset until the finish in a compelling negative splits run which saw her run the first half of the race in 17:11 and the second in a pretty fast 15:58.

She ran the initial three kilometers with Gebre and her compatriot Meseret Fita with the Ethiopians looking like they had a race plan to beat the defending Series champion. Nedbank Athletic Club manager Nick Bester had instructed her athletes to stay on Xabas shoulder, a ploy that they followed for a while.