Ultra-distance star Gerda Steyn will be running in new colours this year after it was confirmed on Wednesday she had joined the Hollywood Athletics Club.

Steyn, who holds the Comrades and Two Oceans ultra-marathon records, has signed with the Durban-based club after running for another KZN outfit, Phantane Athletics Club, for the last two years.

The 34-year-old road runner joins a formidable elite contingent at the Hollywood club which already includes the likes of Olympic marathon runner Irvette van Zyl, national women’s 5km champion Tayla Kavanagh, Soweto Marathon women’s champion Neheng Khatala of Lesotho, and South African men’s half-marathon record holder Stephen Mokoka.

“It’s such an honour for me to join the ‘Purple Team’ and I’m really excited for the year ahead,” said Steyn, a former SA record holder in the standard marathon.

“I’m here to elevate the team as well, from an athletics point of view, but also to encourage more athletes to join and to showcase a bit of the excitement and passion that Hollywood Athletics Club has for the sport.”

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Focus on Comrades and Two Oceans

While Steyn said she would compete in races over shorter distances this year, she confirmed she would again focus on winning the Two Oceans and Comrades ultra-marathons.

Having won the last five successive editions of the 56km Two Oceans, and three of the last four editions of the 89km Comrades, she said she was hoping to extend her winning streak at both races.

“This year my goals are quite clear. I know exactly what I want to achieve, and certainly the two main goals for me will be Two Oceans and Comrades.

“I’ve run for quite a few years now and it’s not difficult for me to know where my passion lies. I enjoy any and every distance in running, but I know the Two Oceans and Comrades are the two races I’m really passionate about, so those will be my two main goals for the year.”