Munnik and Mphahlele set for explosive 5km showdown as Xaba chases rare hat-trick

Track speedsters Luan Munnik and Ryan Mphahlele, both past winners of the men’s elite 5km race in the Boxer Super Run series, will square off in the debut Joburg leg at Marks Park Sports Club on Sunday, while Glenrose Xaba chases a rare hat-trick of debut titles in the women’s elite race.

The mouth-watering showdown between Munnik, winner of the 2024 Boxer Super Run Tshwane, and Mphahlele, who claimed the recent Durban leg, promises to be a showstopper, with both athletes eyeing gold.

According to Munnik, the 5km distance is a perfect balance between speed and endurance.

“It’s where a 1 500m track specialist like me can mix it up with the longer-distance road runners. It’s fast, tactical and tests complete fitness,” said Munnik. “My victory at the Boxer Super Run Tshwane was special. Running 13:50 on a tough route gave me a lot of confidence for the 2025 track season that followed.”

Mphahlele, who competed in the 5 000m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, stunned pre-race favourite Kabelo Mulaudzi to grab victory on his series debut at the Boxer Super Run Durban in October, clocking 13:37.

“Ryan ran a really good race, and his range on both the track and road has been very impressive this year. He’s clearly in great form,” said Munnik. “We met in a close finish at a street mile recently, so I’m looking forward to giving him a run for his money over 5km now.”

Both runners dipped under four minutes in that Parys Crater Street Mile on October 25, with Mphahlele shading Munnik at the line — adding extra spice to Sunday’s head-to-head encounter.

“My main goal is to race smart and go for the win. Joburg’s altitude makes pacing a bit tricky, but I believe a winning performance will naturally result in a strong time,” said Munnik.

Mphahlele also isn’t chasing a specific time, focusing purely on victory.

“The 5km distance requires a lot of speed endurance to sustain the high tempo, especially in elite races,” he said. “I really enjoy the Boxer Super Run and look forward to racing more 5km road events.

“The R147 000 combined prize purse is exciting and motivates us to perform. I obviously entered for the prize money, but it’s also a good test to see how I handle the hilly streets of Joburg. My goal is simply to win the race.”

In the elite women’s race, the seemingly invincible Xaba will be aiming to grab another slice of road-running history in a field stacked with quality runners.

The Boxer Athletics Club star claimed gold at the Durban debut in 2023 and the Tshwane debut earlier this year, and the road-racing ace — who also boasts top track pedigree — will be targeting a remarkable streak with victory in Joburg. She’s also chasing back-to-back titles after winning the Durban race in 15:27.

“Winning in Joburg would complete a special streak – taking gold at all three debuts would be something I’d be really proud of,” she said. “Each race has its own challenges, so to come out on top again would be a great reward for all the hard work and consistency my team and I have put in.

“My goal is always to run my best race – to stay focused, control my pace and finish strong. Of course, I’ll be aiming for the win, but I also want to execute my race plan well and see how far I can push myself on the day. It will depend on the course and conditions, but I’ll be targeting a fast time, something close to my best. The focus is to stay consistent and run a smart race from start to finish.”

Her teammate and training partner Karabo More — the 2024 Boxer Super Run Durban champion, who pushed Xaba hard but eventually had to settle for second in 15:34 — will again look to turn up the heat on race day, alongside strong contenders such as Zanthe Taljaard and Cian Oldknow.