JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s Gerda Steyn won R1.2m with her record-breaking up-run victory in the Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
Steyn stopped the clock in 5 hours 58 minutes 53 seconds, smashing the up-run record over 10 minutes faster than the 6:09:23 of Russian Elena Nurgalieva in 2004.
The 29-year-old’s hefty payday comprised a first prize of R500,000 plus a R500,000 incentive for breaking the up-run record; in addition to the prize for the first South African which was another R200,000.Steyn was also an incredible 18:48 ahead of second-placed Alexandra Morozova of Russia.
A shout out to these two champ!! Thanks for all the great training! Time to tackle the big one!! @nedbanksport @ActionPhotoSA pic.twitter.com/WBJ1IU6WWi
— Gerda Steyn (@gerdarun) June 8, 2019
“I can’t believe it. I can’t even feel my legs at the moment,” Steyn said. “I feel blessed and grateful for my race today.
“Last year I was so focussed on my plan, and this year I took it the way I felt, and when I realised the record was on I knew that’s where my race was really starting.
“I gave it my all and left everything on the road.”