Glenrose Xaba was Team SA’s lead performer in the senior women’s 10km race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, in the United States of America on Saturday, 10 January 2026.
“I’m very happy about my position. I did my best but the course was very tough! I’m just excited that we did very well, and I finished the course with my teammates.”
SA 10km Cross Country champion, Glenrose Xaba
Xaba took 34th position in 34:51, a significant improvement on her 35:12 finish in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, to win the SA title in September 2025, and her result helped to establish the SA women’s team’s ninth place in the team competition.
Earlier in the programme, the team ended sixth in the senior mixed 4x2km relay. The quartet of Luan Munnik, Karabo More, Christopher Swart and Carina Viljoen started well and were in a podium position over the first two legs. Though they lost touch in the second half of the contest, they held on to complete the 8km relay race in 23:04.
In the U20 women’s 6km race, Lara Stander was the best of the South Africans, ending 27th in 21:15 and leading the team to ninth place.
Women Members of the Athletics SA Cross Country to the World Championships
Glenrose Xaba – Women 10km (AGN)
Maria Karabo Mailula – Women 10km (AGN)
Cacisile Sosibo – Women 10km (CGA)
Kyla Jacobs – Women 10km (WPA)
Cian Oldknow – Women 10km (CGA)
Zanele Maisa – Women 10km (CGA)
Karabo More – Mixed Relay (Women) (AGN)
Carina Viljoen – Mixed Relay (Women) (CGA)
Ithuteng Khiba – 6km U20 Women (ATRA)
Lara Stander – 6km U20 Women (BOLA)
Lara Van Der Merwe – 6km U20 Women (AGN)
Andrea Steynberg – 6km U20 Women (ACNW)
Omaatla Dikao – 6km U20 Women (AGN)
Leandri Pretorius – 6km U20 Women (AGN)
Original Copy: Athletics South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Glenrose Xaba took 34th position in 34:51 to establish the SA women’s team’s ninth place in the team competition at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida in the United States of America on Saturday, 10 January, 2026. All Photos: Athletics SA
Photo 2 Caption: Lara Stander (centre) was the best of the South Africans in the U20 women’s 6km race, ending 27th in 21:15 to lead the team to a ninth place finish.
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