RECORD CHASE: All eyes on Gerda Steyn’s fifth title bid at the Comrades Marathon

The 2026 Comrades Marathon could deliver historic records as Gerda Steyn eyes a fourth consecutive win on the shortest “up run” course in recent history, while the men’s race renews the fierce rivalry between Tete Dijana and Piet Wiersma.

When she lines up alongside 20,000 other hopefuls outside the Durban City Hall on Sunday, 14 June, Gerda Steyn will be looking to make history once again at the Comrades Marathon.

Known as the “Smiling Assassin”, Steyn is out to crush all competitors as she targets a fourth consecutive win and fifth overall in the historic marathon.

Steyn is already in second place on the all-time list of women’s winners, with only Elena Nurgalieva ahead of her with eight wins.

The Russian ultramarathoner’s era of dominance was unprecedented and no other woman has won this race more.

Since 2019, however, there has been a different queen on the hills. That year, Steyn etched her name into Comrades history when she became the first woman to break the six-hour barrier on the “up run”, winning in a remarkable time of 5:58:53.

She was further victorious in 2023 on the “down run” when she crossed the finish line in 5:44:54, obliterating Frith van der Merwe’s record, which had stood for more than three decades, by nine minutes.

Steyn was at it again in 2024 when she shattered her own “up run” record from 2019 with a blistering time of 5:49:46.

“I don’t really think about it being my fifth title,” said Steyn. “I just think about how to perform at my very best in that moment and on the day. Since my first win here at the Comrades, I’ve always known that there is a target on my back and that others might be focusing on me, but I’ve never allowed that to faze me.

“I just focus on myself, on the training, the preparation, being 110% ready on race day, being healthy, being mentally fresh and excited and to perform at my very best on the day.”

Steyn has the opportunity to break her “up run” record again as the 99th edition of the Comrades is also the shortest in its recent history with a course route of 85.777km, 133 metres shorter than 2024’s distance.

Earlier this year in April, Steyn won the Two Oceans ultramarathon for the seventh successive time. However, she said she did not get winning fatigue.

“When my year starts with a win at Two Oceans, it gives me nothing other than a huge mental boost and it always leaves me very excited to go again at the Comrades Marathon. So I’ve never felt mentally fatigued after the Two Oceans excitement, it always leaves me mentally hungry,” she said.

Beyond Steyn, the women’s field is packed with prov