The City of Gold is about to feel the heat. When the gun fires at the Boxer Super Run Joburg on Sunday, 9 November 2025, two of South Africa’s fastest men, Luan Munnik and Ryan Mphahlele, will toe the line, ready to turn the hilly streets around Marks Park Sports Club into their personal battleground.
Both men arrive with golden credentials: Munnik, the 2024 Boxer Super Run Tshwane champion, and Mphahlele, fresh from his Durban 2025 triumph. Their clash promises to be a sprinting symphony of tactics, raw speed, and all heart.
For Munnik, the 5km distance hits the “sweet spot where speed and endurance collide.”
“It’s where a 1500m track specialist like me can mix it up with the longer-distance road runners. It’s fast, tactical, and tests complete fitness,” he says.
His victory in Tshwane, clocking 13:50 on a demanding route, gave him a crucial boost heading into the 2025 track season.
“It was a great indicator that my fitness and training were where they needed to be,” he reflects.
“Joburg has a strong running culture, and racing at altitude adds an extra layer of challenge. I’m really looking forward to the new course. it’s always refreshing to take on something different.”
Munnik also praised the R147,000 combined prize purse, calling it “a massive boost for South African running.”
Luan Munnik Boxer Super Run Tshwane 2024 by Tobias Ginsberg
“It encourages professionalism and shows that the event values the effort it takes to compete at the top level.”
He’s keeping a close eye on Mphahlele’s form too:
“Ryan ran a really good race in Durban, and his range on both the track and road has been impressive.
“We had a tight finish at a street mile recently, so I’m looking forward to giving him a run for his money.
“Joburg’s altitude makes pacing tricky, but I believe a winning performance will naturally result in a strong time.”
Mphahlele, ever the cool-headed competitor, says he is going all out to win.
“The 5km distance requires a lot of speed endurance to sustain the high tempo,” he explains.
“I really enjoy the Boxer Super Run. The prize purse is exciting, and the hills of Joburg will be a great test. My goal is simply to win.”
The Durban champion, who blazed home in 13:37, says he’s equally excited about the event’s atmosphere.
“I’m looking forward to running in Jozi and soaking up the vibe with the social runners before and after the race.”
Adding spice to the mix is Chris Mhlanga, Boxer Athletics Club’s consistent performer and podium regular. With three top-five finishes across previous Super Run events, Mhlanga is chasing another medal moment.
“The Boxer Super Run is the best and biggest 5km event in the country,” he says.
“I enter for the love of it—the vibe, the people, the energy. In Joburg, I’ll be aiming for that podium again. A low 14-minute time would be great.”
Boxer’s Head of Marketing, Lee-Ann Pillay, says the company is thrilled to see two champions clash in Jozi.
“It’s going to be extra special to see Luan and Ryan go head-to-head. Having Chris Mhlanga in the mix adds even more excitement.
“We’re expecting world-class racing in Joburg. It’s going to be a day to remember.”
With elite runners chasing glory and social runners flooding the streets in festive waves, the Boxer Super Run Joburg will be a celebration of speed, spirit, and South Africa’s unstoppable running culture.
