Glenrose Xaba smashed the South African women’s 42.2km record as she won the Cape Town Marathon in her debut over the distance.
Xaba clocked 2hr 22min 22sec to see off Mare Dibaba Hurssa of Ethiopia by 14 seconds. Kenyan Pascalia Chepkogei was third in 2:22:49.
The 29-year-old’s effort also knocked nearly two minutes off the 2:24:03 mark set by Gerda Steyn in Valencia in December last year.
✅ Course Record
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 20, 2024
✅ South African Record
Glenrose Xaba dominates the #SanlamCapeTownMarathon in 2:22:22 🔥🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/lUl78Ue2X0
Glenrose Xaba has already inspired some South African athletes.
Caster Semenya has decided to compete in all the Spar Women’s Challenge 10km races and the Absa Run Your City in 2025 because of Xaba who Semenya sees as a mentor.
Semenya, who boasts two 800m Olympic gold medals, says she will take part in those events to encourage other runners.
Semenya ran the Tshwane leg of the Spar Grand Prix series on August 3 and finished 10th.
After the conclusion of the Grand Prix, where Glenrose Xaba clinched the title with another victory in the Johannesburg leg, Semenya revealed she will run all the races in the series in 2025.
“Xaba is a motivation to me. She has shown me everything is possible if you believe. She believes in me, I believe in her and Violet. She is the main reason behind all this success,” Semenya said.
“Next year I will probably do all the Spar races and probably the Absa Run Your City runs. But I’m there to support the athletes and make sure they see that it is possible.
“For me, I’ve done my part as an elite athlete, but I still feel young. I still feel I can go out there and encourage my people — but she is a big influence.”
Semenya and Raseboya started mentoring Xaba three years ago, when she was battling with injuries.
Semenya explained how they managed to change Xaba into a champion this year: “We all know we are coming from that kind of difficult season where we had to battle with injuries, but what makes her special is she has learnt the art of mastering how to lose.
“She used that as a motivation to be better and she is willing to take those risks, so she makes sure she masters whatever she is doing. We do it until we can’t get it wrong.
“She [Xaba] is disciplined and adventurous — and that’s what makes her different. She is not scared to take risks.”
