Defending champion Ryan Mphahlele has said his fitness is not where it was a year ago. He was speaking ahead of his title defence at the Boxer Super Run Durban.
The athlete from Tembisa will line up on the fast and flat coastal 5km course in Durban. He said he still wants to win, but he will also use the race to test his form.
“Whenever I line up at a race, I want to win,” Mphahlele said. “But my fitness isn’t anywhere near where it was at this time last year. I’ll definitely compete for the win, but I’ll also use the race to see where my fitness is now and how I compare with the other athletes.”
Mphahlele was in top shape when he came to Durban last year. He had just finished a strong European track season. During that season he ran a personal best of 3:32.27 in the 1 500m.
He used that speed to win the race in a sprint finish. His time of 13:37 was the fastest road 5km ever run in Africa, according to IOL.
Kabelo Mulaudzi finished second in 13:39. Veteran runner Elroy Gelant was third in 13:42.
Mphahlele went on to win both the Durban and Johannesburg legs of the series in 2025. He said his build up to this year’s race has been very different.
This year he represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Games. In July, he finished fifth at the ASA Road Running Championships in a time of 14:18.
He did not make the team for the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. He will come to Durban to test his legs rather than chase another record.
Mphahlele said he expects a hard race against a strong men’s field. The field includes many of South Africa’s top distance runners.
“The standard was already very high, and the win didn’t come easily. I had to fight all the way to the finish, so I’m expecting even tougher competition this year,” he said.
He said he likes the course and believes the race will be run in a similar way to last year.
“I enjoy the fast, flat course and expect the tactics to be similar to last year. It should make for an exciting race, not only for us on the course but also for the spectators following the action,” Mphahlele said.
The race offers a large prize purse for the winners. The event will be held on a Sunday on the Durban coastal route.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.