Boxer Super Run attracts a stellar women’s elite field for Joburg debut

Image: Anthony Grote

The Boxer Super Run will celebrate its Joburg debut at Marks Park Sports Club on Sunday, 09 November 2025, with a strong showing in the ELITE WOMEN’S WAVE. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer Super Run Durban 2025 and Boxer Super Run Tshwane 2024 Champion), Karabo More (Boxer Super Run Durban 2024 Champion), Zanthe Taljaart and Cian Oldknow have all confirmed their readiness to bring the heat on race day.

With Boxer Athletics Club’s top runner Glenrose Xaba having claimed gold at the Boxer Super Run’s Durban debut in 2023 and its Tshwane debut in 2024, the road racing star admits that securing victory in Joburg would complete a remarkable streak.

“What I really love about the Boxer Super Run is that it brings great competition and amazing energy wherever it goes,” says Xaba. “The event is well organised, the atmosphere is electric, and it always feels like a celebration of running. Boxer has done a great job of creating a platform where athletes can test themselves while also connecting with the community.”

Xaba acknowledges that winning in Joburg would carry significant meaning.

“Winning in Joburg would complete a special streak - taking gold at all three debuts would be something I’m really proud of,” she confirms. “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. The event’s R147K combined prize purse is amazing! It shows that Boxer truly values and invests in athletes. That kind of prize money motivates us to give our absolute best and helps us continue building our careers as professional runners. It’s great to see such strong support for road running in South Africa.”

Closing her thoughts, Xaba adds: “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.”

According to Xaba’s training partner, Karabo More, hosting a world-class 5km race backed by Boxer demonstrates their commitment to developing local talent and inspiring more people to get active.

“Hosting the race in Joburg is exciting, as the city has an incredible running culture and energy, so bringing the race here gives more athletes and fans the opportunity to be part of the experience,” says More. “It also allows us to showcase talent from this region on a bigger stage. I entered because I want to challenge myself and test my fitness against some of the best. The atmosphere around Boxer races is always electric, and it’s a great platform to measure progress and set new personal goals.”

“The R147K combined prize purse is an amazing incentive,” she adds. “It shows how serious and prestigious the event is. It motivates everyone to bring their best performance while rewarding hard work and dedication. My goal is to run strong, stay consistent from start to finish, and execute my race plan with focus. Most importantly, I want to enjoy the experience and give it my all. I’ll be aiming for a personal best - but above all, I want to run smart and finish feeling proud of my effort.”

Zanthe Taljaart shares the sentiments of her Boxer Athletics Club teammates, describing the Boxer Super Run as an incredible event that brings together top talent and passionate runners from across the country.

“The Boxer Super Run promotes community spirit and healthy competition. I’m excited to be part of it,” says Taljaart. “The 5km distance is fast, exciting, and highly competitive. It requires both endurance and speed, which makes it a great challenge for athletes to test their fitness and racing strategy. This will be my first time participating in one of the races. My goal is to run a strong, consistent race and improve on my previous 5km performance. I’ll be targeting a sub-17-minute finish, depending on race conditions and course layout.”

Making her way back from injury and illness, Cian Oldknow is excited to be back on the start line.

“The 5km distance is quite challenging, especially for someone like me who comes from the longer distances such as 10km and the marathon,” says Oldknow. “That said, I really enjoy it. I think the Boxer Super Run will be a great way to test my fitness, and it’s fantastic to see this new series take shape. We don’t have many truly competitive 5km races in South Africa - most are classified as fun runs - so it’s exciting to see clubs starting to treat the 5km as a more serious racing distance. This will be my first time taking part in the event, and I chose to enter the Joburg race as part of my comeback after a year marked by injury and illness. It’s very much a building block for me - a chance to regain base fitness rather than chase a PB. I’m just keen to get back on the start line and into a competitive space again.”

“We are excited to welcome Glenrose Xaba, Karabo More, Zanthe Taljaart and Cian Oldknow to the Boxer Super Run debut in Joburg,” says Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores. “The ELITE WAVES are always a crowd pleaser - you never quite know what will happen on the day, and the races almost always end in a nail-biting sprint finish. We wish all the elite athletes the very best for race day and encourage the OPEN and SUPER SOCIAL WAVE runners to stick around after their events to cheer on the elites and soak up the incredible atmosphere. It promises to be an exciting day of running, competition, and celebration for everyone involved.”

PRIZE PURSE: The Boxer Super Run Joburg boasts an impressive R147 200 prize purse in 2025. This prize purse will be shared across both the Elite Race and the Open Wave. In the Elite Race, the top eight men and women will earn prize money, with the winners each claiming a well-deserved R20 000. In the Open Wave, the top three men and women in the Junior, Open, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and 70+ categories will also be recognised and rewarded for their performances.