Precious Mashele celebrates Birthday as fastest South African to complete a 5km run on SA soil

Precious Mashele put on a fantastic performance on Sunday, 13 October 2024, as he successfully defended his title at the Boxer Super Run in Durban. Not only did he retain his crown, but he also became the fastest South African to complete a 5km run on home soil, crossing the finish line in an impressive 13:39. In the Women’s Elite Race, Karabo More took the spotlight, finishing first with a time of 16:16.

“I’m really happy with the win today, especially since it’s my birthday,” said a smiling Mashele. “The race was thrilling. We ran the same route as last year, but this time there was no wind. My teammates from Boxer were tough competition—every time we race in the RUN YOUR CITY events, they’re always on the podium, so I knew they’d push me hard. I picked up the pace in the last 2km to make sure they couldn’t catch me. I had some doubts since I haven’t been racing well lately, but I reminded myself it’s my birthday, and this win is a gift to myself. The Boxer Super Run is special to me—Boxer Superstores and Stillwater Sports really look after us, so it means a lot to perform well here.”

Boxer Athletics Club swept the podium with Kabelo Mulaudzi finishing second and Chris Mhlanga taking third place.

Karabo More, making her debut at the Boxer Super Run, delivered an outstanding performance in the Elite Women’s Race. “I’ve been away from racing for a while, so today was all about getting my confidence back,” said a happy More. “As part of my comeback, I’m entering races just to see where I am with my training. My strategy was to stay with the pack and work with the other women, then really push in the last 2km. It’s all about taking risks and seeing where they lead you. I didn’t expect to win—I was running against some strong women. It wasn’t until the last kilometre that I thought, ‘I’ve got this.’ That was the key moment. The Boxer Super Run is tough and fast, and winning feels amazing. I’ll definitely be back next year.”

Gerda Steyn (Phantane AC) finished second, with Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer Athletics Club) placing third.

“It was an incredible race today,” Steyn shared. “Even though 5km isn’t my usual distance, I enjoyed every moment from start to finish. The strong competition pushed me, and I’m pleased with my time. I wasn’t focused on my pace during the race, but finishing second means a lot. I followed my race plan, and overall, I’m really happy with the result. Now that the ice is broken with the Boxer Super Run 5K Series, I definitely hope to return next year!”

Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports, reflected on the event, saying, “The Boxer Super Run in Durban today was a thrilling display of talent. We’re grateful to all the participants, supporters, and sponsors who made the day such a success. It was inspiring to see elite athletes, up-and-coming talent, and runners of all levels pushing their limits. A big congratulations to Precious Mashele and Karabo More for their incredible performances in the Elite Men’s and Women’s races—you’ve set a high standard for South Africa’s future running stars.”

Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores, added, “Huge congratulations to Precious Mashele and Karabo More for your fantastic performances at the Boxer Super Run in Durban. You took elite racing to another level and kept us all on the edge of our seats. It was an honor to witness such talent on South African soil. A big thank you to the thousands of runners who joined us and made it such a special day. We can’t wait to bring the same excitement to Tshwane for the debut of the Boxer Super Run there on Sunday, 10 November!”