By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gerda Steyn cemented her place as South Africa’s long distance running queen when she won the 2024 Two Oceans ultra-marathon in record time to achieve a special feat.
Steyn was in competition with fellow South African long-distance runner, Irvette van Zyl, a familiar rival she had previously bested. As they descended Chapman’s Peak, the two were closely matched, but Steyn gradually surged ahead of her formidable competitor as they tackled Constantia Nek.
Van Zyl struggled to regain ground, and Steyn powered through to claim her fifth consecutive victory, surpassing Monica Drogemoller and Elena Nurgalieva, each of whom had previously won the race four times.
She established a new women’s Two Oceans Marathon record time of 03:26:54, surpassing her previous year’s record of 03:29:06.
Van Zyl finished second in a time of 3:29:30 and Loveness Madziva rounded off the podium by finishing in third place in 3:38:00.
Steyn wasn’t the sole victor of the day; Onalenna Khonkhobe, participating in his second Two Oceans Marathon, claimed the men’s title with a finishing time of 03:09:30.
He remained in close proximity to the front runners throughout the race but surged ahead in the final stretch to secure the top position.
Khonkhobe made his debut last year, finishing in sixth place, but this year he fought his way to the pinnacle of the podium.
Lloyd Bosman finished in second place (3:09:58), Zimbabwean Givemore Mudzinganyama, the 2023 champion, finished third.
The Two Oceans half-marathon will be run on Sunday.