Xaba is currently tied on three overall series titles with Rene Kalmer, Irvette Van Zyl and Tadu Nare. A fourth title next year would see her stand alone at the top of the competition’s all-time honours list, cementing her status as one of SA’s most consistent and accomplished distance runners.
The Boxer Running Club athlete says the goal is clear, but acknowledges that the road ahead will be demanding. The Spar series is fiercely contested each year, attracting many of the country’s strongest road runners, while Xaba’s own schedule is becoming increasingly complex.
Alongside her Grand Prix ambitions, Xaba is also focused on marathon racing, a discipline that requires a different training approach and careful management of recovery. Balancing the speed and consistency needed for the 10-kilometre Spar races with the endurance demands of the marathon will be one of the key challenges of her season.
Adding further pressure to her calendar are her longer-term international goals. Xaba has her eye on the Commonwealth Games, where she hopes to represent SA and test herself against some of the best athletes in the world. Preparation for such a stage will require strategic race selection and disciplined planning throughout the year.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
