Caster Semenya’s return to road racing may not have yielded a podium finish, but the 800m legend showed resilience and determination in the 2025 SPAR Grand Prix opening race in Cape Town. Despite only running her second official 10km race, Semenya placed a respectable 14th in a field of 16,000 runners.
Held in Greenpoint, Cape Town, the race saw Semenya finishing in 36 minutes. While the time may not have been extraordinary by her high standards, the iconic athlete was pleased with her performance, considering the unique challenges the event presented.
Reflecting on her race, Semenya said, "The race was a little bit tight but it was a great race and I can’t complain much. I am still learning how to learn the road (Semenya having run on the track all her career). But I am happy with a 36 and I am hoping to get to the 34s." With years of track expertise, Semenya is now transitioning into road running, a completely different discipline where pacing and endurance play a more significant role.
Semenya’s experience showed as she handled the challenge with grace, holding her own in the competitive race. As others surged ahead, Semenya focused on maintaining her pace and learning the nuances of the 10km distance.
Semenya also expressed pride in mentoring athletes like Glenrose Xaba, who delivered an outstanding performance in winning the race. "It is great to be able to mentor women like Glenrose Xaba and as a mentor and coach. I am fulfilled to see her winning. She’s a phenomenal hard worker, lots of discipline and very talented." said Semenya
Despite finishing far from the top, Semenya expressed satisfaction in her progress. "I’m still learning how to run on the road, having spent my entire career on the track. But I’m really excited to see how I improve in future races."
In the front of the pack, Glenrose Xaba (Boxer Athletics Club) clinched victory, defending her SPAR Grand Prix title with a hard-fought 33:13 performance, edging out Ethiopia's Selam Gebre by five seconds. Xaba's victory was a compelling showcase of strength and endurance.
As Semenya continues to adapt to road racing, her focus will be on improving her time and mastering the 10km distance, with a clear goal of bringing her track prowess to the streets in future races.
The atmosphere at the event was celebratory, with a massive crowd of 16,000 participants enjoying the scenic route. The event also included a thrilling prize draw for a Hyundai Exter, valued at R269,900, with Capetonian Lindsey Pettit emerging as the lucky winner.
The second leg of the SPAR Grand Prix will take place in Durban on June 22. For Semenya, this will be another opportunity to gain valuable experience and continue her journey into road racing.
IOL Sport