George Kusche won the up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in a record time of 05:15:56, breaking the 5:24:49 record set by Russia’s Leonid Shvetsov in 2008. Defending champion Piet Wiersma from the Netherlands finished second in 05:19:36.

Mbuti Mollo crossed the finish line third in 05:21:31. Five South Africans finished in the top ten in the men’s race.

Gerda Steyn

In the women’s race, Gerda Steyn once again crushed the competition, breaking her own record in 05:44:53. She set the previous record in 2024, when she completed the up run in 05:49:46.

Zimbabwe’s Nobukhosi Tshuma finished second in 05:53:36, while another South African, Irvette van Zyl, bagged the third podium spot in 06:02:30. Four South Africans finished in the top 10 in the women’s race.

Top 10 finishers in the men’s race:

• George Kusche (RSA) – 05:15:56
• Piet Wiersma (Netherlands) – 05:19:36
• Mbuti Mollo (RSA) – 05:21:31
• Alex Milne (UK) – 05:22:29
• Haruki Okayama (Japan) – 05:24:46
• Charles Lawrence (USA) – 05:27:53
• Lloyd Bosman (RSA) – 05:28:53
• Nikolai Volkov (Russia) – 05:28:59
• Vasilii Korytkin (Russia) – 05:29:29
• Tebogo Pulusa (RSA) – 05:29:40

Top 10 finishers in the women’s race:

• Gerda Steyn (RSA) – 05:44:53
• Nombukhosi Tshuma (Zimbabwe) – 05:53:36
• Irvette van Zyl (RSA) – 06:02:30
• Naomi Robinson (UK) – 06:07:55
• Loveness Madziva (Zimbabwe) – 06:09:54
• Courtney Olsen (USA) – 06:11:20
• Dikiledi Majara (Lesotho) – 06:12:29
• Jenet Mbhele (RSA) – 06:13:08
• Alena Tatarinova (Russia) – 06:15:05
• Kebogile Motshabi (RSA) – 06:21:49

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg