BONUS - RUSTENBURG - The annual and legendary Comrades Marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban was an excellent year for long distance running when both the men's and ladies' division were won by South African athletes.
The Comrades champions for 2025 are none other that Gerda Steyn, and Tete Dijane of Mahikeng in North West. Sunday's race was Steyn's fourth win while Dijana managed to clinch his third victory. This year was 98th running of the Comrades Marathon.
In winning the “down” edition this year - Steyn gained the lead just before halfway and took the win in 5:51:19. She was second in 2018, and won in 2019, 2023, and 2024. The men’s race saw Dijana run down early frontrunner Onalenna Khonkhobe (South Africa) and then hold off defending champion Piet Wiersma (The Netherlands) to win in 5:25:28. Dijane's former victories in the Comrades was in 2022 and 2023. Over 22,000 runners started the downhill run, the race’s largest down-run field ever.
This year’s down run was over a distance of 89.98 kilometers (55.91 miles), which was slightly longer than the 87.70 kilometers (54.49 miles) from the last down run in 2023. The extra distance came from a change in the finish line, which moved from the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium to outside People’s Park.
Men's race Top Ten
Tete Dijana (South Africa) – 5:25:28
Piet Wiersma (The Netherlands) – 5:25:33
Nikolai Volkov (Russia) – 5:29:42
Edward Mothibi (South Africa) – 5:31:41
Joseph Manyedi (South Africa) – 5:32:09
Alex Milne (U.K.) – 5:34:08
David Gatebe (South Africa) – 5:34:30
Bongmusa Mthembu (South Africa) – 5:35:48
Gordon Lesetedi (South Africa) – 5:36:22
Vasilii Korytkin (Russia) – 5:38:59
Women's race Top Ten
Gerda Steyn (South Africa) – 5:51:19
Alexandra Morozova (Russia) – 5:55:56
Shelmith Muriuki (Kenya) – 6:07:56
Irvette van Zyl (South Africa) – 6:11:35
Dominika Stelmach (Poland) – 6:12:02
Carla Molinaro (U.K.) – 6:13:03
Jenet Mbhele (South Africa) – 6:14:24
Caitriona Jennings (Ireland) – 6:16:42
Courtney Olsen (U.S.) – 6:17:48
Melissah Gibson (U.K.) – 6:19:59
