Mphahlele, More crowned 2026 Boxer Super Run Joburg Champions

Ryan Mphahlele and Karabo More took top honours at the Boxer Super Run Joburg on Sunday, 15 November 2026, claiming the Elite Men’s and Elite Women’s titles, following standout performances at Marks Park Sports Club in Emmarentia, Johannesburg.

Mphahlele admitted to feeling anxious from the beginning until the end during the Elite Men’s Wave.

“Today was tough,” said Mphahlele. “At the end, I had to wait for the right moment to make a break. I didn’t know at what distance to make the break, I just felt like this was the right moment, and I think it was around 4.7km when I could smell the win.”

“For the first 2km, there was a big bunch of us, but after 2km I saw that the bunch had been cut down to about eight athletes. From 3km, there were four of us. The competition was very tough and so was the route; it was very hilly.

Mphahlele wasn’t thinking about defending his title.

“I was thinking about how far I could go and whether I was going to win or not. For me, it feels good to win it back-to-back. I felt relieved crossing the finish line first.”

“The Boxer Super Run accommodates everyone,” says Mphahlele in closing. “There’s social running, there’s the Open Wave for pre-elite athletes, there are elite athletes, and there’s a race for the kids.”

Mphahlele secured victory in the Elite Men’s Wave in an impressive 14 minutes 19 seconds. Musawenkosi Mnisi came in second, while Zenzile Pheko finished third

The Elite Women’s Wave saw Karabo More claim gold in a deserving time of 16 minutes 39 seconds.

“The Elite Women’s Wave was filled with a strong field,” says More. “As a result, the race was quite challenging, and I didn’t believe that I would finish in first position. My plan was to stay with the pack, fight to the finish and see where it would get us. All of them (referring to Kyla Jacobs, Nicola Jansen and Cian Oldknow-Gerber) were my toughest competition. When Nicola came to the front, I knew that the pace was going to pick up.

“Crossing the finish line first is a dream come true, because Glenrose (Xaba) is really giving us the baton, and it’s up to us to take it and try to follow in her footsteps. I really enjoy the welcome that you receive at the Boxer Super Run, as well as the goodie bags. I also enjoy the finish, the dancing and the atmosphere.”

Kyla Jacobs came in second, while Nicola Jansen finished third.

Reflecting on the quality of the elite racing and the performances delivered on the day, Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports, congratulated the champions and all athletes who made the Boxer Super Run Joburg a competitive and exciting event.

“The Boxer Super Run Joburg delivered exactly the kind of exciting 5km racing we had hoped for. The quality and depth of the elite fields produced some highly competitive racing, with athletes pushing hard from the start and giving spectators plenty to get excited about. Congratulations to Ryan Mphahlele and Karabo More in the Elite Waves, as well as to every athlete who took on the challenge. It was inspiring to see such a strong level of competition and to watch the athletes embrace the unique challenge of the Joburg course.”

Acknowledging the collective effort behind a successful event, Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores, extended her thanks to the sponsors, partners, spectators and Joburg community for their support.

“The success of the Boxer Super Run Joburg is a reflection of the incredible support we receive from our sponsors, partners, spectators and the wider Joburg community,” says Pillay. “We would like to thank everyone who played a part in making the day memorable, from those who supported the event behind the scenes to every runner, walker, family member and spectator who came out to share in the experience. We look forward to continuing to grow the Boxer Super Run and bringing even more people together through running.”

EVENT INFORMATION: 2026 Boxer Super Run

Launched in 2023, the Boxer Super Run has quickly become one of South Africa’s most anticipated 5km events, welcoming elite athletes, social runners, walkers and first-time participants. The event offers various waves to suit all runners, from the Open Wave and Super Social Wave to the Elite Women and Elite Men. The Joburg event also featured a 1km Kids Race, giving younger runners the chance to join the fun.

1. Sunday 18 October 2026 Boxer Super Run DURBAN
Elite Men’s Winner: Amogelang Tatai / 13:38
Elite Women’s Winner: Glenrose Xaba / 15:29

2. Sunday 15 November 2026 Boxer Super Run JOBURG
Elite Men’s Winner: Ryan Mphahlele / 14:19
Elite Women’s Winner: Karabo More / 16:39

Facebook: Boxer Superstores / Boxer Super Run 5K
Instagram: @boxer_superstores / @boxer_superun5k

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