By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Anthony Grote, Action Photo
Seen here: Glenrose Xaba in action during the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K in 2025
Gqeberha, 1 March 2026 – South Africa’s 10km queen is ready to test her limits again.
After a breakthrough 2025 campaign in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series that delivered three podium finishes — including two victories — Glenrose Xaba returns to the start line with renewed ambition and a clear objective: attack her own national record at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K.
And she will have to earn it.
This year’s women’s race is being touted as the fastest field ever assembled on African soil, featuring formidable East African contenders including sub-30-minute Kenyan star Brenda Jepchirchir and compatriot Faith Cherono.
For Xaba, it is precisely the kind of challenge she thrives on.
Recovery, Reset, Reload
The Boxer Athletics Club standout arrives in Nelson Mandela Bay following an intense stretch of competition. After running only the second marathon of her career in December, she represented South Africa at the World Cross Country Championships in the United States in January — a demanding transition across distances and disciplines.
But the 2026 campaign has been approached with intention.
“The body is feeling good,” Xaba explains. “After the World Cross Country Championships, the focus was on proper recovery, easy mileage, strength work and physio before building up intensity again. Training has been consistent, and I feel stronger and fresher each week.”
That freshness could prove decisive on what is traditionally a fast coastal course.
A Record Within Reach?
Xaba already owns the South African women’s 10km record at 31:12. On Sunday, she could become the first South African woman to break the 31-minute barrier.
Last year in Gqeberha, she claimed third place in 31:50. This time, she wants more.
“I have great memories from racing here and finishing on the podium,” she says. “My target is to run a personal best and compete for the top positions again. If I execute my race plan well, I believe a strong result is possible.”
The presence of Jepchirchir — a proven sub-30 performer — may provide the ideal pacing environment. In elite distance running, fast times are often a product of competitive synergy. Xaba understands that lining up against world-class opposition is not a threat but an opportunity.
“When you race against fast Kenyan athletes and other top runners, it pushes you to perform at your best. I see it as a chance to challenge myself and learn.”
A Historic Field on African Soil
Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and founder of the series, emphasised the magnitude of the occasion:
“We are incredibly proud to see Glenrose Xaba, South Africa’s 10km record holder, line up against world-class competitors such as Brenda Jepchirchir and Faith Cherono on home soil. What makes this moment even more special is that Gqeberha will host the fastest women’s 10km field ever assembled on the African continent.”
The significance extends beyond one race. The 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series features five major 10km events — Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane and Joburg — and boasts a combined prize purse of R1 686 000, alongside enhanced incentives for South African athletes.
The message is clear: domestic road running is not just competitive — it is ambitious.
More Than a Race
For Xaba, Sunday represents more than a season opener. It is a measuring stick. A declaration. A chance to reassert her dominance on home soil while pushing the boundaries of what South African women’s distance running can achieve.
If the pace is honest and the weather plays its part, history could unfold on the streets of Gqeberha.
And if it does, it will not be by accident — but by design, discipline and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
The stopwatch is ready.
So is Glenrose Xaba.
