Xaba focused ahead of Absa TSHWANE 10K as organisers make more entries available

After becoming only the fourth South African woman to break the 32 minute barrier, Glenrose Xaba has emerged as one of the favourites to win this weekend's Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K. In June, Supercharger as she is affectionately known, took third place during the Durban leg of the SPAR Women's Grand Prix in 31:55 to move into third place on the SA All-Time 10km list.

That performance means all eyes will be on the 28-year-old when she lines up for the inaugural running of the Absa race in the nation's capital on Sunday. And in the absence of the sort of world class East African opposition that the local athletes face in Durban, Xaba will fancy her chances of running away with victory in a city that she now calls home. But she is not letting the favourite tag distract her from the job at hand.

Xaba on her way to slicing 22 seconds off her 10km personal best at the 2023 Absa RUN YOURR CITY GQEBERHA 10K, where she clocked 32:23. She has since improved on that mark twice this season. Photo Credit: Rae Trewbrowne.

"I must focus on my race, on how I feel and then I will think about the opposition. But it will be a tough race," said the Boxer Athletic Club top runner. How she will feel after a long season is the question. Xaba has lowered her 10km personal best three times already this year, while also setting a new half marathon personal best in June. It has been a long season of racing.

But to those who suggest that she is tired, Xaba explains that after an injury riddle 2022 she went back to the drawing board with coach Caster Semenya and they worked particularly on strengthening the diminutive runner to ready her for hard racing and a long season. "I think that the coach's method is really working this year. We've been trying it for a long time. The idea was that I should be strong towards the end of the race. So I can see that what we have been doing in training is working in the race," she told #TheTopRunner.

The streets of Joburg were painted RED at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on National Heritage Day (Saturday 24 September 2022). Residents of Tshwane now have the opportunity to get involved in the fun and excitement. PHOTO CREDIT: Charles Ndou

Xaba will take on the likes of Lesotho's Neheng Khathala, the improving Cacisile Sosibo and Gerda Steyn. Aside from the elite athletes though, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is also about the thousands of social runners and walkers that will paint the city's streets red. Michael Meyer who is the Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series says Sunday will be an exciting and fun-filled day.

"We're thrilled to bring exhilarating racing to the streets of Tshwane this Sunday. Apart from

offering South Africa's elites a chance to compete against the world's finest on their home turf through top-tier events, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series also provides our nation's public with a front-row seat to this excitement. For those yet to secure their entry, we have good news, while online registration closed on Monday, a limited number of late entries will be available at Race Pack Collection on a first-come, first-served basis. Tshwane runners join us as we gear up to #RunYourCity this Sunday."

Race pack collection takes place on Friday 25 August and Saturday 26 August at The University of Pretoria, Rembrandt Hall, Hillcrest Campus, South Street, Hatfield, Pretoria from 9am.