Visa woe for Ethiopians opens door for all-SA showdown in Spar Grand Prix opener

Visa complications for Ethiopia’s top contenders have reshaped the landscape of Sunday’s Cape Town Spar Women’s 10km Challenge, opening the door for an all-South African podium battle and handing defending champion Glenrose Xaba a golden opportunity to launch her historic title bid in style.

Last season’s Grand Prix runners-up Diniya Abaraya and third-placed Salem Gebre will both miss the series opener as both runners were unable to secure clearance letters and visas, dramatically shifting the balance of power in the opening race.

Their absence not only removes two of the most consistent challengers from the field, but also paves the way for local stars to dominate the podium in what is now shaping up as a fiercely contested domestic showdown along the Atlantic Seaboard.

For Xaba, the changed field presents a chance to make an early statement in her pursuit of a record-breaking fourth Spar Grand Prix title — a feat that would see her stand alone in the competition’s history. She currently shares the record of three series wins with Rene Kalmer, Irvette van Zyl and Ethiopia’s Tadu Nare.

“The Spar Grand Prix has become very important to me,” said Xaba. “I am proud of what I have achieved and I hope it inspires young girls from backgrounds like mine to believe they can do the same.”

While the spotlight will firmly be on the defending champion, the Boxer Athletics Club star is unlikely to have it all her own way. Rising star Karabo Mailula, veteran Van Zyl, and Hollywood Athletics Club pair Tayla Kavanagh and Cacisile Sosibo are all poised to capitalise on the absence of the Ethiopian contingent.

Mailula finished third in last year's race in a time of 33:33, behind Xaba (33:13) and Gebre (33:18), and is happy with her preparations for this year's series opener.

Xaba’s training partner Karabo More adds further depth to a competitive local field, while Olympic champion Caster Semenya will again test herself over the 10km distance after an encouraging debut last year.

With a lucrative R2 million prize purse on offer across the five-leg series — which also visits Durban, Tshwane, Gqeberha and Johannesburg — a strong start in Cape Town could prove decisive for Xaba's record bid, and make her hard to catch in the rest of the series.

Against the backdrop of Table Mountain, the stage is set for a compelling opening chapter — one where circumstances have aligned to give South Africa’s best runners a rare clean shot at the podium, and Xaba a timely opportunity to tighten her grip on history.