Glenrose Xaba and Luan Munnik stole the show at the inaugural Boxer Super Run Tshwane, held on Sunday, 10 November 2024, at TUKS (Uitspan). They clinched gold in the Elite Women’s and Elite Men’s races with remarkable times of 15:42 and 13:50, respectively.
Coming off a historic victory and a national record at the Cape Town Marathon, Glenrose Xaba had one more goal before taking a well-earned break: proudly representing her club, Boxer Athletics Club (AC), at the Boxer Super Run in Tshwane.
“The first 2-3 km felt smooth, but I could still feel the marathon in my legs during those last 2 km,” Xaba shared with a beaming smile. “I kept pushing, reminding myself that I needed to perform for my club. My strategy was to break away early because, after a marathon, I knew slowing down would allow others to catch up. Starting strong and holding my pace was my best bet. I’m so grateful for this year. Thanks to God, my coaches Caster and Ledile Violet Semenya, Rhyn Swanepoel from Boxer AC, and my teammates like Karabo More, who pushes me with her speed. Special thanks to my grandmother, my mom, and Lebogang Phalula for always supporting me.”
Reflecting on the event, Xaba added, “The Boxer Super Run is a fantastic platform for young runners. It encourages them to start with shorter distances before jumping into 10km or half marathons. I only moved up to the 10km races after becoming a senior, so I appreciate that Boxer is creating opportunities for athletes to develop their strength at a comfortable pace. Winning the first race in Durban last year and now here in Tshwane feels incredibly special, and I’m truly grateful.”
Boxer AC athletes rounded out the podium, with Karabo More taking 2nd and Cacisile Sosibo in 3rd.
Legendary middle-distance runner and respected coach Caster Semenya made her Boxer Super Run debut with an impressive 7th place finish in 17:58.
“It was a tough but beautiful race,” Semenya said. “I love challenging myself, even if I’m semi-retired as an athlete. It’s exciting to see that I can still finish in the top 10. Running alongside my athletes and watching them thrive is deeply fulfilling. The energy of the Boxer Super Run is fantastic. Seeing so many people participating is a joy—it keeps young people off the streets and encourages them to focus on something positive.”
On the men’s side, Luan Munnik celebrated his first major road victory with a standout performance.
“The Boxer Super Run is an amazing challenge,” Munnik remarked. “For track athletes like me, it’s a great test of endurance, and for road runners, it’s a speed battle. The event has the perfect blend of competition, support, and excitement. I went out hard to establish some dominance early on. About 1km in, Maxime Chaumeton broke away, with Elroy (Gelant) chasing. I decided to respond, and it turned into a back-and-forth between Elroy and me. With 800m left, I made my final surge, and it worked. Big congratulations to Elroy for securing another medal at a Boxer event—he’s an exceptional athlete. Winning today feels amazing; it’s my first big win on the road.”
Boxer AC’s Elroy Gelant finished in 2nd, with Chris Mhlanga securing 3rd place.
“Congratulations to Glenrose Xaba and Luan Munnik for becoming the first champions of the Boxer Super Run Tshwane! You both set a high standard for this event,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports. “The support from our sponsors, participants, and spectators truly made this event unforgettable. Hosting a top-tier 5km race in Tshwane is an exciting milestone, and we’re thrilled to bring such quality racing to this community.”
Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores, added, “We were blown away by the incredible performances. The atmosphere was absolutely electric. A big congratulations to our winners, Glenrose and Luan, who made this debut event unforgettable. A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved, from participants to passionate fans. This event has set the bar high, and we can’t wait to build on its success.”
Event Information:
2024 Boxer Super Run Tshwane
The 5km distance continues to grow in popularity worldwide, and the Boxer Super Run Tshwane lived up to the hype, attracting a mix of seasoned athletes and enthusiastic newcomers. This event truly had something for everyone, giving Tshwane a firsthand experience of a world-class 5km road race.
Exciting News: Discovery Vitality members earned Vitality points after completing the Boxer Super Run in Tshwane.
Impressive Prize Purse: The 2024 Boxer Super Run in Tshwane featured an impressive prize purse of R147,200.00, available to both the Elite Race and Open Wave participants. In the Elite Race, prize money was awarded to the top 8 male and female finishers, with the winners each receiving a well-earned R20,000. Additionally, in the Open Wave, the top 3 male and female finishers across various categories—Junior, Open, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+—were also recognized and rewarded for their efforts.
