As it has each year since 2004, Johannesburg opened the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series in style and with massive numbers.

A capacity crowd of 14,443 participants from 255 companies gathered for the 20^th running of the Corporate Challenge at the historic Wanderers Club. Johannesburg is the first event of the 2025 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series, which will visit 16 locations in eight countries on all six permanently inhabited continents, including eight stops in the United States, two in China, and one each in Argentina, Australia, England, Germany, Singapore, and of course South Africa.

“The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge is the first to go on the calendars each year for our employees,” said Travis Johnston, a long-time team captain for Stanlib. “Friends and colleagues share the streets for a fun night out and embrace what the race stands for, which is so much more than a road race. The charities supported by the generous contributions made by all and the way in which the race helps others is very special.

“A huge congratulations on the 20^th year running of the event and we look forward to many more with you,” Johnston concluded.

Investec led the way in total number of participants with a whopping 750, followed by Rand Water (632), Nedbank (602), Standard Bank (500), Absa (400), AECI (370), KPMG (350), Liberty (350), Momentum Group (350), and Rand Merchant Bank (300). All of those businesses have been seen regularly on the starting line for more than a decade.

“The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge provides the opportunity for us, as an organization, to demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of our people,” said Natalie Agostinho, team captain for Investec. “The event allows us to foster a sense of social connectedness through physical activity. The healthy competition enhances the spirit and enthusiasm experienced by everyone.”

The companies running for their fitness, camaraderie and in support of Laureus didn’t just come from the Johannesburg business community. Some brought in employees from throughout South Africa.

“We have been actively involved in the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge for many years,” said Blackie Swart, team captain for Implats, a leading platinum group metals producer. “This year, 150 Implats employees — from across our South African operations in Gauteng, Limpopo and the North West provinces — are set to participate.”

And Implats doesn’t just take a leisurely run over the 3.5-mile racecourse. It dominates.

“Our participation also celebrates the achievements of our elite running team, who regularly do well in local and international marathons and ultramarathons, and who are role models within Implats,” said Swart. “Implats has produced the past five Johannesburg individual male champions of the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge, and other members of our elite running team regularly fly the Implats flag high by clinching a handful of the other Top 10 spots.”

Swart was speaking pre-race. You can now make it SIX straight individual Johannesburg male titles for Implats, as Samuel Matsepe was the first finisher to break the finish-line tape in an impressive 17:20. In the female individual competition, Stella Marais Stapelberg from KPMG came out on top in 21:52. That is the fastest female time submitted in Johannesburg since Investec’s Mia Morrison clocked a 21:08 in 2019.

In what has also become an annual charitable tradition at the Corporate Challenge, the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge served as a benefit and awareness-builder for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which uses sport as a tool for social change.

J.P. Morgan donated in celebration of each Corporate Challenge participant and has supported Laureus each year with the Corporate Challenge since 2014, 12 years in total. The non-profit was visible throughout the night with 30 children wearing Laureus “You Run For My Future” t-shirts at an on-course water stop, and several Laureus ambassadors, including Bryan Habana, former Springbok and Chair of Laureus Sport for Good, in attendance.

The 49^th year of the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series continues on Thursday, April 10 with another landmark event – the 20^th running in Singapore. Johannesburg and Singapore both debuted in 2004 and boast the two largest first-year crowds in Series history – 6,144 in Johannesburg and 6,766 in Singapore.