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Picture courtesy: (Tsakisi Muhlari) Gerda Steyn lifted the women’s trophy for the third time at the Comrades Marathon and Dutch athlete Piet Wiersma from Netherlands wins first place in men’s comrades marathon.
(The Post News)– Gerda Steyn, now a three-time Comrades Marathon winner, delivered another extraordinary performance on Sunday, June 9, in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. She captured the nation’s hearts and attention by setting a new record time, crossing the line in an unofficial 5 hrs, 49 mins, and 43 secs.
Steyn tackled the gruelling 85.9 km race Right from the start, she sprinted ahead and never looked back, leaving her competitors eating her dust. She not only owns the record for the down run, set in 2023, but she solidified her status as a long-distance legend.
Styne was running along earlier with Carla Molinaro and a Zimbabwean athlete Loveness Madziva, but as she reached halfway, she extended the gap all the way to the finish line, crossing it in 5:49:46, which was nine times different from the record in 2019.
This has set the fastest pace in the history of the women’s uprun and Steyn walked away with R2 million in prize money and bonuses.
“It was a blessing to be here, and I just want to thank everyone who played a part, supported me, and helped me get here. This is the best day of my life.’ She said in a post-race interview.
The second woman to finish in second place was former winner Alexandra Morozova from Russia in 6:05:12, and in third place, American athlete Courtney Olsen grabbed the third spot in 6:08:09.
In the men’s contest, Dutch athlete Piet Wiersma from Netherlands also made history by becoming the first Dutch athlete to win the challenging annual contest. While there were still other athletes in competition with around 10 km to go, Wiersma used the hills in the last stage of the race to break away.
He completed the 85.91km race in 5:25:00, beating the 16-year-old men’s run-up record by just 11 seconds.
Wiersma, an athlete without any sponsors, said “It was a life-changing victory as he is looking to become a professional athlete.’’
He took with him an amount of R825,000 in prize money and there is no doubt that he attracted support in the process.
“This is going to change everything for me, and I still don’t have sponsors, but I knew that I was in the best shape of my life, and I really wanted to win this race,’’ said Wiersma, who finished in second place on his Comrades debut last year.
The following are results of leader board from the Ultra-marathon 2024:
Men Comrades Marathon results
1) Piet Wiersma (NED) 5:25:00
2) Dan Matshailwe (RSA) 5:25:45
3) Degefa Lafebo (ETH) 5:27:48
4) Joseph Manyedi (RSA) 5:28:33
5) Andrew Davies (GBR) 5:30:46
6) Bongmusa Mthembu (RSA) 5:34:45
7) Elov Olsson (SUI) 5:35:24
8) Teboho Sello (LES) 5:36:11
9) Alex Milne (GBR) 5:36:51
10) Givemore Madzinganyama (ZIM) 5:37:09
Women Comrades Marathon results
1) Gerda Steyn (RSA) 5:49:46
2) Alexandra Morozova (RUS) 6:05:12
3) Courtney Olsen (USA) 6:08:09
4) Carla Molinaro (RSA) 6:12:01
5) Nobukhosi Tshuma (ZIM) 6:12:18
6) Antonina Iushina (RUS) 6:12:28
7) Caitriona Jennings (IRE) 6:13:00
8) Jenet Mbhele (RSA) 6:16:54
9) Dominika Stelmach (POL) 6:19:24
10) Yulia Ryzhankova (RUS) 6:28:22
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