Comrades Marathon 2025 saw thrilling elite races
South African stars Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn further strengthened their status as two of the world's best ultra-distance runners as they emerged triumphant once again in the Comrades Marathon on Sunday.
Dijane, the winner in 2022 and 2023, crossed the line first in 5:25:28, while Steyn added a fourth win to her already impressive record as she took another convincing win in 5:51:19.
This makes her only the second woman (after eight-time winner Elena Nurgalieva) to win the race more than three times.
This was the 98th edition of the iconic ultra between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, run in alternating directions each year, and this was the 49th edition of the Down Run.
The official distance of this year's race was 89.98km, and as the event builds up to its much-anticipated 100th edition in 2027, the 2025 race attracted a record field for the Down Run of 22 677 qualifying entrants.
This prompted the Comrades Marathon Association's decision to introduce the first ever split start in the event's history, for safety reasons and to allow all runners in the field the opportunity to get over the start line quicker.
This saw Group 1 starting at 05:45, and Group 2 setting off at 06:00, as slightly later start than the traditional 05:30 start, in order for the runners to enjoy better light conditions in the early kilometres, notably on the descent of Polly Shortts hill.
Both start groups still had 12 hours to finish the race.
Another innovation in the 2025 race was a new street finish in Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, with a festive hospitality and club area next to the finish in People's Park.
In the men's race, Onalenna Khonkhobe led for most of the race, but he was eventually caught with less than 20km to go.
Dijane surged into the lead, but struggled to shake off the determined challenge of 2024 winner, Dutchman Piet Wiersma.
The South African had to dig deep to maintain his small lead, and in a repeat finish of the 2023 race, Dijane took the win in 5:25:27, with Wiersma crossing the line in 5:25:32.
'I came prepared and stuck to my race plan,' Dijana said afterwards.
'In the last 10km, I saw Piet was closing, so I accelerated and opened the gap, and I felt like I was in control.'
Nikolai Volkov produced a storming finish, chasing down a number of athletes in the closing stages of the race to grab third position in 5:29:41.
Fourth was 2019 men's winner, Edward Mothibi (5:31:40), while fifth place went to Joseph Manyedi (5:32:08).
There were six South Africans in the top 10, including three of the top five.
Meanwhile, Zambian athlete Elizabeth Mukoloma led the women's contest until shortly after the halfway mark, but once Steyn took the lead, she never looked back.
Former winner Alexandra Morozova recovered from cramps and started closing the gap on Steyn in the second half, but the South African managed to draw clear again, finishing in 5:51:18, with Morozova nearly five minutes behind in 5:55:55.
Kenyan athlete Shelmith Muriuki, making her Comrades debut, held on to take third position in 6:07:55.
'Today was yet another wonderful experience out on the road at the Comrades Marathon, and to see this race going from strength to strength and to be a part of it is such an honour for me. It's really special,' said Steyn.
'I've spoken a lot about what this race means to me, and today it was cemented once again. The race went well. I set out at a more conservative pace because I really wanted to try and run my optimum race today, and it worked out well.'
Fourth over the line in 6:11:34 was Olympic Marathoner and former 50km World Record-holder Irvette van Zyl, making her Comrades debut a fine day out.
Poland's Dominika Stelmach rounded out the women's top five in 6:12:01.
There were three South Africans in the top 10, with Jenet Mbhele the third local athlete over the line in seventh position (6:14:23).
Reflecting on a successful 98th edition of the race, Comrades Marathon Association General Manager Alain Dalais said, 'We are really happy with the way the split start worked so well, with both start groups clearing the start line within six minutes.
'We've also received a lot of positive feedback about the new street finish, and we look forward to building on these aspects as we prepare for 2027.
'We treated this 2025 race as a dress rehearsal for the 100th edition, and while every race will have things that we can improve on, we are happy with the innovations introduced this year, and feel we are on track for an even better Down Run in 2027.
'I would like to congratulate all the runners who took part in today's race, from Tete Dijane and Gerda Steyn to the final finishers in the last hour, from the novices tackling their first Comrades Marathon and those earning their back-to-back medals, to the Yellow Number Runners completing their 10th and earning their Green Numbers, and all the way to Louis Massyn, finishing his 50th and becoming the first athlete ever to reach this incredible Quintuple Green Number milestone.
'On behalf of the Comrades Marathon Association, we hope that you enjoyed your race experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back to The Ultimate Human Race next year, when we once again take on the challenge of the Up Run,' he added.
'Of course, a race of this magnitude cannot be put on without the input, dedication and incredible hard work of many people, and here the credit must go to our Race Organising Committee, the Comrades Marathon Association Board and its various sub-committees, and the many Comrades Marathon Volunteers and Members, who give up their time, experience and dedication to make this race possible.
'Thank you also to our incredible sponsors, that we are proud to call both supporters and friends, many of whom also contribute vibrant activations and refreshment stations along the route. It really is a team effort by all of these people, organisations, and companies, and is truly what makes the spirit of the Comrades Marathon what it is,' concluded Dalais. Tete Dijana 05:25:27
Piet Wiersma 05:25:32
Nikolai Volkov 05:29:41
Edward Mothibi 05:31:40
Joseph Manyedi 05:32:08
Alex Milne 05:34:07
David Gatebe 05:34:29
Bongmusa Mthembu 05:35:47
Gordon Lesetedi 05:36:21
Vasilii Korytkin 05:38:58 Gerda Steyn 05:51:18
Alexandra Morozova 05:55:55
Shelmith Muriuki 06:07:55
Irvette Van Zyl 06:11:34
Dominika Stelmach 06:12:01
Carla Molinaro 06:13:02
Jenet Mbhele 06:14:23
Caitriona Jennings 06:16:41
Courtney Olsen 06:17:47
Melissah Gibson 06:19:58
NOTE: All times as per Comrades Marathon release
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