Xaba excited for 'coach Caster' after ECHR ruling in favour of Semenya

• Glenrose Xaba expresses excitement over European Court of Human Rights ruling in favour of coach Caster Semenya.
• Tadu Nare wins her third consecutive Spar Grand Prix race, while Xaba finishes fifth.
• Xaba plans to recover and prepare for the World Half Marathon Championship.

Glenrose Xaba has expressed her excitement by the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in favour of her coach Caster Semenya. 

READ | Critical but symbolic win for Caster: SA must be at forefront of discrimination fight - Kodwa

Semenya, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in the 800m, has been in a legal battle against World Athletics track and field rules that force her to suppress her natural testosterone levels in order to compete.

"I'm very excited about the news about my coach (Semenya)," said Xaba after completing the fourth leg of the Spar Grand Prix 10km race series at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga on Saturday.

"I have not spoken to her yet, but I know that she is very excited about the possibility of being able to compete again."

Xaba, a former series champion, was the first South African across the line, but could not better her previous leg finish of third place three weeks ago in Durban. 

In chilly Mpumalanga conditions, the 28-year-old crossed the line in fifth position with a time of 33 minutes and 34 seconds.

"Today was a very tough course," said Xaba, who will now take a short break to recover before tackling the fifth of six legs in the series in her hometown of Tshwane on Saturday 5 August.

"My legs started getting tired because I have been running PBs after PBs and, when I got to the 8km mark, I started to cramp.

"I didn’t have the strength to fight back, so I decided to just relax and let go from there. I now need to go back to the drawing board, recover well and get my strength back and prepare for the World Half Marathon Champ."

Defending series champion Tadu Nare (Nedbank) continued her dominance in the Spar series by winning her third consecutive race on a challenging hill-dominated out-and-back route in 32:28.

The Ethiopian completed the 10km race in 32:28, slicing 15 seconds off the course record she set last year to secure her third straight Spar Grand Prix victory.

In a tactical race held on an undulating course at 700m altitude, Nare showed patience in the first half before slamming down the hammer in the closing stages to draw clear of fellow Ethiopian athlete Selam Gebre (Nedbank). 

Gebre, who held the series lead going into the Mbombela contest, took second position for the fourth race in succession in 32:51.

"It was tough for me today, to be honest. It was very cold, and I couldn't keep my body warm. It was also a tough course with many ups and downs," Nare said.

"So, I'm not really satisfied with my time, but considering the challenges and the route, I'm happy with my result."

While the two Ethiopian stars managed to drop the rest of the field in the second half, there was a tremendous battle behind them for third place.

Ugandan athlete Docus Ajok, making her Spar Grand Prix debut, admitted she too had struggled in the conditions.

However, she managed to hold on to take the last podium place in 33:25. She edged out Blandina Makatisi (Maxed Elite) of Lesotho, who grabbed fourth spot in 33:38.

"After 5km, I started to struggle because I competed in Durban last week, and I haven't recovered properly," Ajok said.

"The cold weather was a problem, and the route was tough, so I'm grateful that I managed to finish in the top three."

Results of the SPAR Grand Prix 10km run at the Mbombela Stadium:

Senior Category: 1. Tadu Nare (Nedbank) 32:28; 2. Selam Gebre (Nedbank) 32:51; 3. Docus Ajok (Newton Sports Agency) 33:25; 4. Blandina Makatisi (Maxed Elite) 33:28; 5. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) 33:34; 6. Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer) 33:40; 7. Cian Oldknow (Hollywood) 34:32; 8. Kesa Molotsane (Murray & Roberts) 34:43; 9. Lebo Phalula (Boxer) 35:15; 10. Lebogang Phalula (Boxer) 36:35.

Junior Category: 1. Jackie Coertze (Boxer) 38:41; 2. Corlize Stoltz (Boxer) 39:12; 3. Mart Mari Jordaan (Boxer) 39:3540-49 Category:  1.     Kathrine Skosana (Boxer) 40:01; 2. Simone Botha (Boxer) 40:04; 3. Chantal Middel-Bovee (Definition Athletics Club) 46:02

50-59 Category: 1.Ronel Thomas (Boxer) 41:10; 2. Janene Carey (Phantane) 41:37; 3. Sonne Odendaal (Lowmed) 44:07

60-69 Category: 1. Judy Bird (Boxer) 41:20; 2. Allison Hay (Lowmed) 50:48; 3. Sandy Mclagan (Nedbank LVCC) 01:00:49

70+ Category: 1.Martie van Putten (RWFL Mpumlanga) 01:12:28