South Africa has formed a team of 14 athletes to participate in the World Road Running Championships, which will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 19-20. Glenrose Xaba decided to forgo participation in this year's cross-country championships to focus on the road running program ahead of the world championships scheduled for late this month in Denmark.
The team will include Elroy Gelant and Glenrose Xaba, who bring significant experience as both previously represented the country at the first championships in Riga, Latvia, in 2023. At those competitions, Gelant finished 13th in the men's half marathon, and Xaba placed 12th in the women's race. Furthermore, South Africa secured a bronze medal in the men's team event.
Team Composition and Qualification
The Gelant and Xaba pair will once again compete in the half marathon in Copenhagen. In the men's race, Gelant will be accompanied by Ngconde Matwebu and Tsenge Noze, while Xaba will run alongside Qacisile Sosibo and Karabo Mailula. This lineup was selected after the ASA Road Running Championships in Gqeberha in June, which served as the national qualifiers for the upcoming championship.
Matwebu and Sosibo earned automatic qualification spots following victories in their respective national half marathon titles. Matwebu won the men's race with a time of 1:01:57, beating Noze, who finished in 1:02:16, while Sosibo won the women's race with a time of 1:11:05.
Athletes' Experience and Achievements
Elroy Gelant, holder of the South African national marathon record, will attempt to claim the title in the men's half marathon at the world championship, following his 13th-place finish at the debut tournament in Riga in 2023. The 40-year-old Gelant also plans to participate in the ASA Cross-Country Championships in Tshwane on Saturday, where he aims to regain his 10km men's title.
Meanwhile, Xaba holds the national marathon record and has chosen not to participate in cross-country this year to concentrate on her road running program. The 30-year-old athlete demonstrated strong form this season, winning the Spars Women's 10km Challenge in Tshwane last month. After the race, she noted that she uses this race as part of her preparation for the World Road Running Championships.
In the men's five-kilometer squad are Tapelo Ramakhosae and Maxim Shometon, and in the women's squad are Tyla Kavanagh and Zante Taldjaerd. Kavanagh, a national 5k champion, is heading to Copenhagen after winning the Hollywoodbets 10km race in Durban with a course record of 31:39 on Sunday.
Tyla Kavanagh was unable to challenge Glenrose Xaba's national 10km record, overcoming an early fall and strong winds to win the Hollywoodbets Durban 10K race on Sunday.
Chepo Tsithe and Dumisani Motlung will represent the men in the road mile, while Karabo Mor and Karina Viljoen have been selected for the women's race. Tsithe adds another South African record holder to the team. This middle-distance runner holds the South African record for 1500m and had a strong season in 2026, including fifth place in the 1500m at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat in May, where his time of 3:31.53 was only 0.18 seconds slower than the national record.
He will be paired with Motlung in the road mile, while Mor and Viljoen form the women's team. Mor was among the athletes who received automatic qualification based on their performances at national championships.
The 2026 South African team includes six athletes who participated in the first championships in Riga, ensuring continuity into the second stage. The one-mile and 5k races will take place on Saturday, September 19th, and the half marathon on Sunday.
Copenhagen Competition Schedule
Men's Half Marathon: Ngconde Matwebu, Tsenge Noze, Elroy Gelant.
Women's Half Marathon: Qacisile Sosibo, Glenrose Xaba, Karabo Mailula.
Men's 5k Team: Tapelo Ramakhosae, Maxim Shometon.
Women's 5k Team: Tyla Kavanagh, Zante Taldjaerd.
Men's Road Mile: Chepo Tsithe, Dumisani Motlung.
Women's Road Mile: Karabo Mor, Karina Viljoen.