By Adnaan Mohamed
Tayla Kavanagh delivered a breakthrough performance to win the opening leg of the SPAR Grand Prix series in Cape Town on Sunday, outsprinting defending champion Glenrose Xaba in a gripping finish in Green Point.
The 24-year-old from Hollywood Athletics Club in KwaZulu-Natal clocked a personal best 31:33, timing her charge to perfection over the final 50 metres to edge Xaba by five seconds. It marked a significant statement at the start of the national women’s road running series.
Xaba, a three-time SPAR Grand Prix winner representing Boxer Athletics Club Gauteng North, crossed in 31:38 after a sustained duel with Kavanagh in the closing stages. Her teammate Kyla Jacobs secured third place in 32:16.
Kavanagh executed a measured race, staying within striking distance before lifting the pace in the final kilometre. The contest tightened approaching the last corner, where she committed to a decisive surge.
“No, I knew I was coming into the race in pretty good shape, but I never expected to win the race today,” said Kavanagh.
“I kind of just stuck to my plan, and I felt good in the last 1K. From about 9Ks, I just started to surge a bit. Glenrose came back at me, and I thought, ok let me keep trying. And as we took the last corner, I was like, I still got some gas in the legs, let me try.
“So, I took the risk and I brought it home. I was really happy to get a bit of a gap and to win. I’m super happy.”
Her focus this season has been consistency following a strong 2025 campaign.
“I had a really good year last year. So going into this season, I really wanted to build some consistency again. I was trying to continue that and it’s exactly what I managed to do today, so I’m really happy.”
Behind the leading trio, Karabo More (32:34) and Cacisile Sosibo (32:42) rounded out the top five in a competitive field that set a high standard for the series opener.
Double Olympic 800m gold medallist Caster Semenya (35:44), who coaches Xaba with her wife Violet Semenya finished in a credible 12th place.
Kavanagh’s victory reshapes the early Grand Prix standings and signals a potential shift in the competitive order, with Xaba set to respond as the series progresses.
A record 18000 women took to the streets of the Mother City to participate in perfect weather conditions on a fast, flat circular route that started in Vlei Road at the DHL Stadium and finished at Green Point. Common Fields.
Top 10 Results – SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge (Cape Town)
- Tayla Kavanagh – 31:33
- Glenrose Xaba – 31:38
- Kyla Jacobs – 32:16
- Karabo More – 32:34
- Cacisile Sosibo – 32:42
- Karabo Mailula – 33:28
- Irvette van Zyl – 33:43
- Zanthe Taljaard – 34:23
- Carina Swiegers – 34:47
- Elizabeth Hutamo – 35:09
- Deanne Launscher – 35:41
- Caster Semenya -35:44
Top three: Tayla Kavanagh (center), Glenrose Xaba (left) and Kayla Jacobs (right) finished on the podium at the Spar 10km Challenge in Cape Town on Sunday morning. Photo Credit: Adnaan Mohamed