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TimesLIVE
12-06-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Comrades Marathon: 5 runners still in hospital 'are stable and recovering'
Twenty-five Comrades Marathon runners required in-hospital treatment after this year's race. Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) GM Alain Dalais said 440 people were treated in the medical tent in the finish area and 200 were sent to hospital for evaluation — 169 from along the route and 31 from the finish. Five were still hospitalised on Wednesday, including Capetonian Moira Harding, who went missing after the race and was found the next morning in a hypothermic condition in central Durban, about 7km from the finish. 'All these patients are stable and recovering and likely to be discharged in the next few days,' he said. While acknowledging some aspects of the race — particularly congestion in the finish area — need to be improved, Dalais praised the CMA medical team, saying their protocols were excellent and focused on ensuring athletes' safety. He confirmed no fatalities were recorded after this year's race, dismissing false rumours circulating online. The reassurance came amid heightened sensitivity after footage showing some runners crawling across the finish line and tragic incidents in previous years. In 2022, runners Phakamile Ntshiza and Mzameleni Mthembu died after taking part in the race. Before that, the last time multiple deaths occurred during a Comrades Marathon was in 2007. In 2019, Limpopo runner Sonnyboy Ngobeni died two days after the race. Comrades medical director Dr Jeremy Boulter clarified that Ngobeni's death was not included in the official tally as he had not been treated on race day and no link to the event could be medically confirmed. 'The statistic only takes into account deaths of runners treated or hospitalised on race day,' he said. Boulter noted that while it's often difficult to determine the exact cause of such deaths, most appear to be linked to cardiac arrest, often triggered by undiagnosed or underlying conditions or illness. He cautioned runners against participating while ill and advised avoiding medication during the race unless prescribed by a doctor. 'People mustn't run if they are unwell or had any illness in the past three weeks before the Comrades. If they feel they are running into trouble, they should pull out and catch a bus home instead of pushing through.' The race this year had 18,194 official finishers which was 86.75% of the runners who qualified to start the 89.98km course, slightly longer than last year's 87.70km. Dalais said organisers were reviewing the challenges experienced on race day and steps would be taken to improve on these aspects for next year's race and for the 2027 Down Run, which will be the 100th edition of the race. Criticism of the new street finish at People's Park in Durban for the 2025 race would be dealt with, he pledged. 'Congestion and dealing with the flow of people in the venue were particularly challenging in the last hour. This is one of the most important aspects of the race plan that we are looking at carefully and working to fix for next time. 'We are taking note of all the feedback and input from our runners — whether positive or negative — and adding this to the post-race debrief notes. We want to assure the running community we will implement changes and improvements to enhance the overall runner and spectator experience.'
The South African
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Comrades Marathon confirms 'missing' runner STILL in hospital
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has confirmed that Moira Harding, who was found in a hypothermic state 15 hours after completing this year's race, remains in hospital . Moira Harding, 54, who represented Fish Hoek Athletic Club in the Western Cape, was found near the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) base in The Point, Durban. The base is situated roughly 7km from the new Comrades Marathon finish on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue at People's Park. The workers initially thought she was out training, but soon realised she was in fact in distress. Harding, who lives in Kommetjie, took a respectable 10:52:03 to complete the 89.98km run, well inside the 12-hour cut-off. At the time of publishing it still remains unclear how she ended up near the NSRI base. The CMA confirmed that Harding is one of five runners currently in hospital. The Comrades Marathon is the oldest, largest and most iconic ultramarathon in the world, attracting tens of thousands of local runners each year, along with thousands more from all over the world. Many of them come back year after year to tackle the hilly roads between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, which are lined by tens of thousands of spectators and volunteers, cheering the runners on, and millions more tune in to the live television broadcast. This is why it is known as The Ultimate Human Race, and why many believe that the Comrades is more than just a race… it is a life-changing journey. As the dust settles following the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 8 June, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is celebrating another incredible race in the rich history of this unique ultra-marathon, whilst also acknowledging that there were some issues and challenges experienced on race day. These will be thoroughly investigated and covered in the post-race debrief, and actions taken to improve on these aspects for next year's race. The CMA stated earlier that it was treating this year's race as a dress rehearsal for the 2027 Down Run, which will also be the 100th edition of the race, with (potentially) another record-sized field and extra celebrations as part of the event. The 2025 race, with the first ever split start in the history of the Comrades Marathon and a new street finish at People's Park in Durban, delivered important lessons that the CMA and its Race Organising Committee (ROC) will take on board in the planning for 2026 and 2027. In terms of what went well, the 2025 race featured a record field for the Down Run, with 18 194 official finishers (86.75%) out of 20 972 starters, and various innovative changes successfully introduced. These included the two-group split start, for safety reasons, and this worked so well that all runners were over the start line within six minutes of their starting gun being fired, vastly reducing the amount of time lost at the start by slower runners at the back end of the field. 'The CMA would like to thank the runners for their co-operation and discipline at the start in Pietermaritzburg, which not only set the scene for a great race, but also ensured the safety of all runners in the event,' says CMA General Manager Alain Dalais. In the elite race, South African superstars Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn emerged triumphant once again. Dijana, the winner in 2022 and 2023, crossed the line in 5:25:28, just ahead of 2024 winner Piet Wiersma (Netherlands), while Steyn added a fourth title to her already impressive record with another convincing win in 5:51:19, followed by 2022 winner Alexandra Morozova. This makes Steyn only the second woman (after eight-time winner Elena Nurgalieva) to win the race more than three times. At the finish, all runners' race numbers were scanned to determine which medal they earned, and in the process 19 runners from Group 2 were flagged for having started with Group 1. After being interviewed by race officials, it was decided to penalise them with a 30-minute time penalty added to their finish times. 'Other positives that the CMA is proud of is that there were no long queues at registration over the three days, and the registration process was seamless, with all runners receiving their goodie bags, Mr Price Sport Race T-shirt and Toyota cap. On race day, all 47 refreshment stations were well stocked, and supplied the runners with the hydration and nutrition they needed, and at the finish, all runners received their medals and finisher badges. Meanwhile, incidents of crime in and around the finish venue were drastically reduced from previous years, as a result of an increased security presence in the Finish Precinct, but we would still like to improve on that even more,' adds Dalais. The race also celebrated a remarkable milestone this year as Louis Massyn became the first athlete in the world to complete the same ultra-marathon 50 times. He crossed the line in 11:53:14, being met on the line by CMA Board Member Barry Holland, himself the owner of 49 Comrades medals, and then went through to the Green Number Tent to receive his specially framed Quintuple Green Number. Equally remarkable was Johannes Maros Mosehla extending his own record of oldest Comrades finisher, as the evergreen 83-year-old came home in 11:47:27. Earlier, three more women – Malie van der Walt, Helen Mann and Gina Hinchliffe – joined the fairly exclusive women's Triple Green Club, growing its membership from nine to 12. A total of 528 runners received new Green Numbers on the day, for 10, 20, 30 or 50 finishes. Meanwhile, 4 258 novice runners claimed their first Comrades medals. On the medical front, a full medical report will still be issued by Comrades Race Doctor Jeremy Boulter, but initial reports show that 440 athletes were admitted into the Finish Medical Tent, and 200 athletes were sent to hospital – 169 directly from the route, and 31 from the finish. There were no deaths reported during or as a result of the event, although some digital news platforms falsely reported the passing of two runners. Of the 200 athletes sent to hospital, 25 patients were admitted, and at the time of writing (Wednesday, 11 June) five are currently still in hospital, including Moira Harding, who was reported missing after the race and only found the next morning. 'All of these patients are stable and recovering, and are likely to be discharged in the next few days. The Comrades Race Doctor is closely monitoring their recovery, and is in constant contact with the hospitals,' says Dalais. However, the CMA readily admits that certain aspects of the race need immediate attention. Congestion at the finish and dealing with the flow of people in the venue were particularly challenging in the last hour, although the event's Safety and Security teams attended to the bottleneck issue at the Runner's Exit area behind the finish line, and resolved it before any serious incidents could occur. 'There were no stampede incidents on the day, nor were any injuries reported by any runners or spectators as a result of the congestion at the Runner's Exit, but this is one of the most important aspects of the race plan that we are already looking at carefully and working to fix for next time,' says Dalais. Unsurprisingly, there have been a number of comments posted on social media platforms since the race about the challenges experienced at the 2025 race, and Dalais says the CMA is listening. 'We strive to put on the perfect race, ensuring the safety of our runners and spectators while providing them with an exhilarating experience, from registration through the start all the way to the finish and beyond, but there will always be room for improvement, and thus we are taking note of all the feedback and input from our runners – whether positive or negative – and adding this to the post-race debrief notes. 'We hear the criticism and complaints, particularly about the finish venue, management of flow in the venue, and security, and we want to assure the running community that we are taking this feedback seriously. We will be implementing changes and improvements to enhance the overall runner and spectator experience, and of course, to improve on safety aspects as well.' As part of this process of self-evaluation, the CMA invited world-renowned road running expert, Dr Hilary Walker, General Secretary of the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) to attend this year's race, and the CMA Board met with her the day after the race for an initial feedback session. 'She had valuable insights to share on various aspects of our race, and will be sending us a more detailed report soon, which we will add to the 2025 debrief process as we work towards making the 2026 and 2027 races even better,' says Dalais. 'So, whilst we celebrate the success stories of the 2025 Comrades Marathon, the CMA will continue to have an open, two-way channel of communications with its runners, spectators, media, sponsors, partners and volunteers, and all feedback is welcomed. Anybody that would like to contribute their thoughts or ideas to our debrief process is welcome to mail us at info@ We not only welcome this input, we rely on it, in order to ensure the continued success of The Ultimate Human Race,' concludes Dalais. The Comrades Marathon always delivers a number of interesting results and statistics, and a quick look at the numbers shows the following: NUMBER OF STARTERS TOTAL MEN WOMEN GROUP 1 (05:45) 11 366 9 887 1 478 GROUP 2 (06:00) 9 608 6 834 2 774 TOTAL 20 974 16 721 4 253 NUMBER OF FINISHERS TOTAL MEN WOMEN GROUP 1 (05:45 10 852 9 441 1 411 GROUP 2 (06:00) 7 357 5 206 2 151 TOTAL 18 209 14 647 3 562 *The final number of finishers may change, as a small number of queried results are being investigated. PERCENTAGE – FINISHERS TOTAL MEN WOMEN GROUP 1 (05:45) 95.48% 95.49% 95.40% GROUP 2 (06:00) 76.57% 76.18% 77.54% TOTAL 86.82% 87.59% 83.75% MEDAL BREAKDOWN MEDAL QUALIFIERS MEN WOMEN GOLD First 10 Men and Women 10 10 WALLY HAYWARD Men's position 11 to 05:59:59 31 0 ISAVEL ROCHE-KELLY Women's position 11 to 06:59:59 0 15 SILVER Men: 06:00:00 to 07:29:59 Women: 07:00:00 to 07:29:59 669 29 BILL ROWAN 07:30:00 to 08:59:59 2 585 259 ROBERT MTSHALI 09:00:00 to 09:59:59 2 708 493 BRONZE 10:00:00 to 10:59:59 3 839 974 VIC CLAPHAM 11:00:00 to 11:59:59 4 805 1 782 TOTAL 14 647 3 562 NOVICES – FIRST COMRADES TOTAL MEN WOMEN STARTERS 4 973 3 671 1 302 FINISHERS 4 258 3 184 1 074 PERCENTAGES 85.62% 86.73% 82.48% BACK-2-BACK TOTAL MEN WOMEN 2 827 2 179 648 GREEN NUMBERS EARNED TOTAL MEN WOMEN 10 FINISHES 412 355 66 20 FINISHES 81 72 9 30 FINISHES 20 17 3 40 FINISHES 0 0 0 50 FINISHES 1 1 0 TOTAL 523 445 78 TOP 20 MOST TRACKED PARTICIPANTS ON THE COMRADES MARATHON APP NAME TIMES TRACKED Gerda Steyn 52 630 Onalenna Khonkhobe 25 819 Tete Dijana 24 208 Gloria Nokwazi Ngcobo 12 959 Schalk Bezuidenhout 11 224 Piet Wiersma 9 901 Louis Massyn 9 844 Carla Molinaro 8 259 Sipho Marima 6 682 Charles Mnisi 6 440 Elizabeth Mukoloma 5 592 Irvette van Zyl 4 868 Masibulele Mkhundlu 4 735 Kabelo Mabalane 4 372 Jenna Challenor 4 338 Alexandra Morozova 4 037 Rachel Beaton 3 514 Rory Petzer 3 206 Caitlin Hood 2 999 Marissa Groenewald 2 795 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
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 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Dijana declares himself the true Down Run champion
Tete Dijana won the men's race in the Comrades on Sunday. Photo: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media "Indeed, I am a real Down Run champion!" There was an uncharacteristically cocky air about Tete Dijana late Sunday morning, deep within the bowels of the Moses Mabhida Stadium, as he addressed the post-race media conference. Responding to some questions with monosyllabic answers, and with his face cupped in his hands as he sat at the head table, he gave the impression of someone who would rather have been elsewhere. But make no mistake — Dijana was right where he wanted to be: in the spotlight, the centre of attention, basking in the glory of a Comrades Marathon victory that settled more than a few scores. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ First, he comfortably beat his Nedbank Running Club teammate Piet Wiersma — the Dutchman who had given him a major scare two years ago during the Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Second, he made up for last year's nightmare run, which saw him plagued by dizziness and cramps, ultimately finishing outside the top 10 and missing out on a third successive Comrades crown. Wiersma, the 2023 Up Run winner, was tipped by many as the stronger contender heading into this year's race. But Dijana, ever determined, proved his supremacy on the Down Run. 'I came prepared,' he said. 'I made sure Piet worked hard. I made some surges and moves so I could be comfortable. In the last 10 kilometres he was closing in, so I accelerated a little and that gap opened up.' He said to expect the unexpected 😏 Tete Dijana puts the struggles of 2024 behind him with an emphatic win 👇 📺 Stream #Comrades2025 on DStv: — SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) June 8, 2025 Dijana clocked 5:25:28 — just five seconds ahead of Wiersma — although the margin of victory felt more comfortable than in 2022, when he won by only three seconds. When asked how it felt to cross the finish line first, his initial reply was simple: 'Unexplainable.' But with a bit more probing, he opened up. 'I was so excited and also emotional, because I remembered what happened last year when I was in my best shape — but the devil came,' he said, referencing his inexplicable 2023 struggles, which also affected his training group, affectionately known as The Happy Bunch. 'I'm happy that the devil did not attack me this year.' Instead, Dijana attacked the race. Alongside Wiersma and Edward Mothibi, he launched a late charge that overhauled Onalenna Khonkhobe, who had led from the start until just 18 kilometres from the finish. Dijana said the support from fans inspired him to run with renewed purpose. 'I'd been getting pressure from social media — my fans were saying, 'Don't let it go again.' They used the word again. I had to fix everything, because those people — when I was down last year, emotionally and physically — lifted my spirits.' 'When I was training, I told myself I wasn't going to run for me, I was going to run for them.' And run for them he did. Their cheers echoed through the stadium as he crossed the finish line, completing a hat-trick of Down Run victories following his triumphs in 2022 and 2023. He is, indeed, a true Down Run champion.
IOL News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Steyn secures fourth Comrades, grateful for rising competition
Gerda Steyn won hewre fourth Comrades on Sunday. Photo: Leon Lestrade Independent Media Image: Leon Lestrade Independent Media The reign is likely to continue unabated — at least for the foreseeable future. But there's every reason to believe it will not be the no-contest it had been in previous years. Gerda Steyn's fourth victory in the Comrades Marathon was not as compellingly dominant as her previous three. The Smiling Assassin beat second-placed Alexandra Morozova by just three minutes, clocking 5:51:09 in Sunday's Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Steyn sportingly welcomed the challenge, with the Russian runner — who won three years ago in her absence — just a minute behind at one stage of the race. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'To have had that competition was also good, not just for me to raise my performance but also for the race,' Steyn said, during the post-race media conference deep in the bowels of the Moses Mabhida Stadium. 'It is no surprise to see a tight time of only three minutes between us, because Alexandra had done well. We can expect faster times to come — and Comrades deserves it.' The Hollywood Athletics Club star said she relishes being challenged and enjoys seeing more talented runners enter the race because 'it is exciting to get competition. "As I said in the pre-race conference," she added, "we are entertainers, and I hope it (the race) was great to watch. It is not a one-woman show. "When I heard Alex (Morozova) had gained a minute on me at Fields Hill, it made me work harder. The competition makes me want to be in my very best shape whenever I go into the race.' Queen of Comrades! 👑🇿🇦 Gerda Steyn crossed the finish line in 5:51:19 to secure her 4th Comrades Marathon title! A phenomenal performance from Gerda.🏃♀️🔥#Comrades2025 #TeamSA #ForMyCountry — Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) June 8, 2025
