Steyn led from start to finish and managed her pace brilliantly to claim the win in the up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.  She crossed the line in 5:49:46 to add to her previous wins in 2019 and 2023.

Russia’s Alexandra Morozova finished second in 6:05:12 with the American Courtney Olsen finishing third in 6:08:09.

The men’s race was won by Dutchman Piet Wiersma who crossed the line in 5:25:01 at Kingsmead Stadium, winning his maiden Comrades title. In 2023, he finished in second as a complete unknown, vowing to come back stronger.

South Africa’s Dan Moselakwe finished runner-up with a time of 5:25:45, while Ethopian Defega Yohannese Lafebo rounds up the podium in 5:27:49.

The Top 10 men’s finishers are:

• Piet Wiersma (Netherland) – 5:25:01
• Dan Moselakwe (RSA) – 5:25:45
• Defega Yohannese Lafebo (Ethiopia) – 5:27:49
• Joseph Manyedi (RSA) – 5:28:34
• Andrew Davies (Canada) – 5:30:47
• Bongmusa Mthembu (RSA) – 5:24:46
• Elov Ollson (Sweden) – 5:35:25
• Teboho Sello (Lesotho) – 5:36:12
• Alex Milne (GBR) – 5:36:52
• Givemore Madzinganyama (Zimbabwe) – 5:37:10

 The Top 10 women’s finishers are:

• Gerda Steyn (RSA) – 5:49:46
• Alexandra Morozova (Russia) – 6:05:12
• Courtney Olsen (USA) – 6:08:09
• Carla Molinaro (GBR) – 6:12:01
• Nobukhosi Tshuma (RSA) – 6:12:18
• Anonymous – 6:12:28
• Caitriona Jennings (Ireland) – 6:13:00
• Jenet Mbhele (RSA) – 6:16:54
• Dominika Stelmach (Poland) – 6:28:22
• Yulia Ryzhankova (Russia) – 6:28:22

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger