'I have 31 minutes in my legs' - Glenrose Xaba celebrates new 10km PB at Absa RYC GQEBERHA 10K

Just three days after winning a sixth national 10 000m title, Glenrose Xaba rounded off a wonderful week by cruising to the best 10km clocking of decorated her career. The diminutive Boxer Athletic Club top runner was on song at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K where she finished as the first South African and fourth overall in the new personal best time of 32:23 - taking a whopping 22 seconds off her previous mark.

"I'm very happy," she told #TheTopRunner. "During the first 5km my body wasn't responding and I think it's because of that 10 000m I ran earlier in the week. But I know that in the last 5km my body is always strong. So I just relaxed and focussed on my own race and pacing myself until the end. Surprisingly, I got the PB. I'm very happy."

Xaba on her way to slicing 22 seconds off her 10km personal best at the 2023 Absa RUN YOURR CITY GQEBERHA 10K. Photo Credit: Rae Trewbrowne.

By eclipsing a 4-year-old PB, the 2018 SPAR Grand Prix Champion is showing that she is returning to the shape that saw her dominate 21km and 10km road races in 2018 and 2019. And with her coach Caster Semenya and mentor Violet Raseboya in her corner SuperCharger is dreaming of joining a select group of South African women that have broken the magical 32 minute barrier over 10km.

"I've been trying to chop my PB for a long time and it has finally happened. So this shows that I am in good shape now. I think I'm still going to run faster times. Vy phoned me - she is very happy with the performance because it shows that I am on the right track. Hopefully I can stay healthy. It shows that I do have 31 minutes in my legs because during the last 50 metres I saw 31:57 on the clock which shows that I can do it. We will work on it. I think I will run it soon this year, here in South Africa not overseas," said the Puma Ambassador.

Xaba (centre) with Precious Mashele, Stephen Mokoka and Collen Mulaudzi at the 2022 World Half Marathon Championships where she set her current personal best. Photo Credit: Bogosi Moepadira.

With the mission for the rest of 2023 now firmly set the 28-year-old who hails from Mpumalanga can focus on execution. And it's a busy programme as she juggles two major 10km series' while making sure that she earns selection to the team that will represent the country at the World Half Marathon Championships in Lativa in September and October. Xaba who set her 1:09:26 21km lifetime best when she took 16th position at the 2020 World Half Marathon Champs is confident that she can manage her schedule and produce the results.

"I'll be doing all the Absa RYC 10km races as well as the SPAR Grand Prix because they have also added incentives for South Africans to perform. So the focus this year will be on 10km as well as 21km because I want to go to the World Half Marathon Championships. And hopefully I wish I can run a PB at the NMB Half Marathon which incorporates the SA Half Marathon Championships," she smiled.