Ultramarathon athlete Gerda Steyn scooped her third Comrades Marathon title in record time on Sunday.
In another remarkable victory, Gerda Steyn aced the Comrades Marathon this year, crossing the end line at five hours, forty-nine minutes and forty-six seconds.
As per Daily Maverick, Steyn ran “nearly unopposed” as she led the women’s category of the 85.91km race from Durban all the way to Pietermaritzburg.
Halfway through the marathon, Steyn placed at 117th overall. The pro road runner then gradually increased her pace, beating her 2019 record timing of 5:58:53 by nearly 10 minutes and placing first place in the Women’s Comrades Marathon.
The win marks Steyn’s third Comrades victory, and adds to an impressive list of accomplishments achieved by Steyn this year – including breaking course records at Om Die Dam and at The Two Oceans Marathon, and winning the Ultimate Human Race.
Steyn believes that her recent accomplishments will help to secure her spot in the 2025 Olympics, taking place in Paris this year.
”At the Olympics it is quite heavy as well, I feel like this will count in my favour. I will be focusing on my speed and on track workouts and on getting my legs strong and fast,” she said, as quoted by SABC Sport.
Taking to Instagram to celebrate the win, Steyn wrote:
“So pleased with a third win at the most awesome race in the world!! Maybe I am biased, but that is how it felt being out there today with hundreds of thousands of people cheering and supporting!!”
View this post on Instagram
Steyn was the only South African among the top three finishers at the Comrades Marathons this year.
Following Steyn in second place was Alexandra Morozova, who competed under a neutral flag and finished in 6:05:12, and Courtney Olsen, who bagged third place with the matching time of 6:05:12.
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Feature Image: Instagram / @gerda_steyn
