The commencement of this year’s Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon on Saturday 13 April heralded the beginning of an exhilarating journey for participants.
Against the backdrop of scenic beauty, runners embarked on a challenging 56km route from Newlands Main Road to the iconic UCT rugby fields, setting the stage for an unforgettable display of athleticism and determination.
The highlight of this year’s Two Oceans Marathon was Gerda Steyn’s pursuit of an unparalleled fifth victory, making her the main focus of attention.
Steyn competed with fellow South African long-distance runner, Irvette van Zyl, a familiar rival she had previously bested.
As they descended Chapman’s Peak, the two were closely matched, but Steyn gradually surged ahead of her formidable competitor as they tackled Constantia Nek.
Van Zyl struggled to regain ground, and Steyn powered through to claim her fifth consecutive victory, surpassing Monica Drogemoller and Elena Nurgalieva, each of whom had previously won the race four times.
She established a new women’s Two Oceans Marathon record time of 03:26:54, surpassing her previous year’s record of 03:29:06.
Steyn wasn’t the sole victor of the day; Onalenna Khonkhobe, participating in his second Two Oceans Marathon, claimed the men’s title with a finishing time of 03:09:30.
He remained in close proximity to the front runners throughout the race but surged ahead in the final stretch to secure the top position.
Khonkhobe made his debut last year, finishing in sixth place, but this year he fought his way to the pinnacle of the podium.
Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon table:
Women’s ultramarathon
1 Gerda Steyn, 03:26:54
2 Irvette van Zyl, 03:29:30
3 Loveness Madziva, 03:38:00
Men’s ultramarathon
1 Onalenna Khonkhobe, 03:09:30
2 Lloyd Bosman, 03:09:58
3 Givemore Mudzinganyama, 03:11:13
Article written by Aiden Daries for Cape Town Etc.
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Feature Image: X /@2OceansMarathon
