By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gerda Steyn blazed her way to a sixth successive win in the 56km Two Oceans Marathon around Cape Town on Saturday.
Steyn’s time of 3h 29min 11sec was outside the course record she had set last year, but she maintained that it was the win, not the record, that she had set out to accomplish.
Shelmith Muriuki of Kenya was well behind Steyn in second place, finishing in 3:37:50, and Neheng Khatala of Lesotho (who won last year’s Soweto Marathon) was third in 3:40:38.
Thousands of spectators lined the iconic Cape Peninsula route to witness the dramatic showdown, with cheers erupting.
“I’m really pleased with the win. I tried to be a little bit tactical, going really fast at the beginning, which was completely on my plan and it worked.
“It was tough for me and everyone else with such a fast start, but I’m really proud of how it went today.”
In the men’s race, Steyn’s Hollywood Athletics Club teammate Khoarahlane Seutloali of Lesotho took the win in 3:10:46 after a tight tactical battle.
With four men having broken away from a large pack before the 50km mark, Seutloali edged clear in the closing stages to secure a narrow victory.
Siboniso Sikhakhane was half-a-minute off the pace, crossing the finish line in second position in 3:11:17, as the first South African home, and former South African half-marathon champion Lucky Mohale was third in his Two Oceans debut in 3:11:26.
Results
Men: 1 Khoarahlane Seutloali (LES) 3:10:46, 2 Siboniso Sikhakhane (RSA) 3:11:17, 3 Lucky Mohale (RSA) 3:11:26, 4 Nkosikhona Mhalkwana (RSA) 3:11:52, 5 Mphatso Nadolo (MAL) 3:12:08, 6 Lebello Mopenyane (LES) 3:12:44, 7 Lebenya Nkoka (LES) 3:13:06, 8 Lekhotla Pulinyana (LES) 3:13:40, 9 Sithembiso Mqhele (RSA) 3:14:12, 10 Pule Sibeko (RSA) 3:14:56
Women: 1 Gerda Steyn (RSA) 3:29:10, 2 Shelmith Muriuki (KEN) 3:37:50, 3 Neheng Khatala (LES) 3:40:38, 4 Carla Molinaro (GBR) 3:43:44, 5 Dikeledi Majara (LES) 3:46:23, 6 Nobuhle Tshuma (ZIM) 3:51:12, 7 Worke Amena (ETH) 3:51:56, 8 Meseret Biru (ETH) 3:35:18, 9 Landie Greyling (RSA) 3:57:38, 10 Deanne Laubscher (RSA) 3:59:11.