Glenrose Snubs World Champs Despite Blistering Form

^{Photo Credit: Adnaan Mohamed}

By Adnaan Mohamed

South African road-running star Glenrose Xaba has stunned fans by stepping off the global start line before the gun has even gone off. Despite earning her spot for next month’s World Senior Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the record-breaking marathoner has withdrawn from what would have been her first major global race.

The 30-year-old, who smashed the national marathon record (2:22:22) on debut at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon last year, chose caution over ambition after discussions with manager Lee-Roy Newton and coaches Caster and Violet Semenya.

Like a runner easing off the gas before the finishing tape, Xaba says she is not yet conditioned for the punishing marathon stage at the World Champs.

“My manager said I’m still a baby in marathons… Yes, I qualified, but we didn’t do the program,” she explained, acknowledging the need for a proper build-up rather than leaping from track mileage straight into marathon intensity.

The announcement came moments after Xaba broke the tape at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km in 31:34, just shy of her own national record (31:12).

Her latest victory in Durban comes after a streak that includes the Spar Women’s 10km and last weeks Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10km in Preoria. Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala (31:44) and Kenya’s Fridah Ndinda (33:05) chasing her slipstream came in second and third respectivley.

Yet it was the news of her withdrawal frpm the World Champs, not the course record, that dominated headlines.

Critics argue that with national titles spanning 10km, 21km, and 42.2km, Glenrose has already proved her endurance credentials and should test her legs against the world’s best.

But Glenrose insists she isn’t ready to stride into the deep end of marathon racing without proper preparation.

She admits her real dream was to qualify for the 5000m or 10 000m to taste the stadium roar in Tokyo, but she missed the mark.

“It was not an easy decision. I was excited when I qualified last year, but my manager told me I’m not strong enough yet,” she said.

For now, Glenrose Xaba’s path is one of patience: training blocks instead of global spotlights, measured strides instead of risky sprints.

Like any seasoned runner, she knows the biggest races are not just about getting to the start line, but its about setting goals and looking at the bigger picture.

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