The streets of Johannesburg turned into a high-speed stage of rhythm and resilience on Sunday morning as Ryan Mphahlele and Glenrose Xaba sprinted to victory at the inaugural Boxer Super Run Joburg, hosted at Marks Park Sports Club on 9 November 2025.
Fresh off their golden performances in Durban, the pair once again ruled the road.
Mphahlele stormed home in 14 minutes 20 seconds, with Xaba cruising to a commanding win in 16:14 on a testing 5km course.
For Mphahlele, it was a race of grit and pacing.
“The plan was to go hard from the start, try maintain the pace and keep the lead,” he said.
“Musawenkosi Mnisi showed up. He caught me on those up-hills. I just wanted to keep him at bay because he looked strong. I was surprised when he fell off the back. He was the toughest challenge today, and of course Bennett Seloyi at the end. I had to sprint because he was coming in strong.”
Seloyi finished second, with Mnisi third. But for Mphahlele, victory was as much about community as competition.
Ryan Mphahlele by Tobias Ginsberg
“The Boxer Super Run is fun. I’m glad they have the social runners too.
“it’s not just about the elites. The running community is big and passionate. It feels good to claim gold today, and I’ll be back next year.
“Thank you to Boxer and Boxer Athletics Club for this amazing event.”
In the Elite Women’s Wave, Xaba was once again untouchable.
The reigning queen of the 5K extended her golden streak with a third consecutive debut victory, following her wins in Durban (2023) and Tshwane (2024).
“The race was tough,” she said with a smile.
“From 2km to 4km it was really challenging, but once we hit the downhill, I could open up.
“My plan was to go hard from the start. Everyone I compete against is strong and fast.
“This race tested my preparation for the Valencia Marathon. If I can run this time on a tough, high-altitude course, it shows I’m in good shape.”
For Xaba, every finish line is a lesson.
“Everyone is my competition on the day. They also want to be where I am, so I focus on myself.
“Winning today shows my hard work is paying off. One of my goals was to win all the city debuts in Durban, Tshwane, and Joburg.
“And I’ve achieved that. This is my home, and I’ll definitely be back next year!”
Community spirit meets elite speed
Kids 1km start by Tobias Ginsberg
The Boxer Super Run was a celebration of movement with thousands of runners filling the different start waves: from elite athletes chasing seconds to social runners dressed for fun, and even a 1km kids wave inspiring the next generation.
“The debut of the Boxer Super Run in Johannesburg was an incredible success,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.
“Congratulations to Ryan and Glenrose, you truly set the pace and spirit of this event.
“A heartfelt thank you to every runner who joined us and to our sponsors for making this day unforgettable.”
Boxer Superstores’ Head of Marketing, Lee-Ann Pillay, echoed the pride:
“We’re incredibly proud to have brought the spirit of the Boxer Super Run to Joburg for the first time.
“This event reflects everything the Boxer brand stands for community, energy, and togetherness.
“Congratulations to Ryan and Glenrose for your gold medals, and thank you to every runner who made the day electric. We can’t wait to build on this momentum!”
With a prize purse of R147 200, a festival-like atmosphere, and a spirit that stretched far beyond the finish line, the first Boxer Super Run Joburg proved that in the city of gold, every stride counts.
TOP 10 RESULTS: ELITE WAVES
Elite Men
1 Ryan Mphahlele 14:20, 2 Bennett Seloyi 14:22, 3 Musawenkosi Mnisi14:30, 4 Zenzile Pheko 14:39, 5 Chris Mhlanga 14:44, 6 AbednicoChoba 14:49, 7 Elroy Gelant 15:01, 8 Keanu Domingo 15:09, 9 Precious Mashele 15:11, 10 Erick Ngeno 15:15
Elite Women
1 Glenrose Xaba 16:14, 2 Neheng Khatala 16:31, 3 Karabo More16:47, 4 Karabo Mailula 17:31, 5 Cian Oldknow 17:42, 6 Florence Nyaingiri 17:51, 7 Carina Swiegers 18:05, 8 Rutendo Nyahora18:06, 9 Lilly Hutamo 18:35, 10 Zanthe Taljaard 18:38
