The 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon, an 85.77km ‘up’ run between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, will be held on Sunday.
We take a look at five elite men and women who are among the contenders for the prestigious titles.
Men
Tete Dijana
Though he hasn’t won the ‘up’ run, Dijana has triumphed in the last three successive editions of the ‘down’ run, and the rest of the field will be wary of him. If he is near the front in the closing stages, he will be difficult to beat as he looks to become the first man in 26 years to win the race more than three times.
Piet Wiersma
The defending ‘up’ run champion, Wiersma has been edged out in sprint finishes against Dijana in the last two editions of the ‘down’ run and he will be eager to return to the top of the podium. The popular Dutchmen will line up among the title favourites.
Edward Mothibi
One of the most consistent performers at the race in recent years, Mothibi is always dangerous. He won the ‘up’ run in 2019, and with his knowledge of the course and experience, he is likely to be prominent in the lead group once again.
Onalenna Khonkhobe
An energetic and likeable character, Khonkhobe has won the Soweto Marathon, the City2City 50km race and the T20 Oceans 56km ultra-marathon. He has twice gone out hard at Comrades, led the race well into the second half but failed to hold on, and if he is more conservative in his approach he should be in contention for the win.
George Kusche
A former middle-distance track specialist, Kusche has made an impressive transition to the road. Having finished 12th on his Comrades debut in last year’s ‘down’ run, he went on to win the Peninsula Marathon in 2:15:02 in windy conditions in April earlier this year, and he enters this weekend’s race as one of the favourites for victory.
Women
Gerda Steyn
With four wins already in the bag, Steyn will be aiming to become only the seventh athlete (and the second woman) to secure five Comrades victories. With organisers revealing the shortest course in the history of the race, she might also be eyeing her ‘up’ run record of 5:59:46 which she set in 2024.
Irvette van Zyl
If anyone has the ability to dethrone Steyn, it’s Van Zyl. The SA 50km record holder has twice pushed the ‘Smiling Assassin’ to the finish line at the 56km Two Oceans ultra-marathon, and she was fourth on her Comrades debut last year. Van Zyl has never attempted the ‘up’ run but she is strong on hills and will fancy her chances.
Shelmith Muriuki
A former winner of the City2City 50km race in Gauteng, Muriuki was superb on her Comrades debut last year, finishing third. Like Van Zyl, she will be competing in the ‘up’ run for the first time, and she will be looking to become the first Kenyan athlete to win the annual race.
Dominika Stelmach
The consistent Polish athlete has finished among the top 10 at Comrades for the last four years in a row, achieving her best result when she took second place on the ‘down’ run in 2022. Stelmach was sixth at the 50km World Championships in New Delhi earlier this year, and she should be in the hunt once again.
Nobukhosi Tshuma
Making her Comrades debut, Tshuma could spring a surprise after impressing at Two Oceans earlier this year, where she finished third. She is untested over the longer distance but she will be eager to become the first Zimbabwean woman to win the race.
* Featured image of Tete Dijana by Tobias Ginsberg/Modern Athlete
