Gerda Steyn smashes SA Marathon record in Spain

Gerda Steyn, the darling of South African long distance running, smashed her own South African marathon record at the Valencia Marathon in Spain on Sunday.

WATCH | Comrades winner Gerda Steyn downs a beer!

Steyn finished in 11th position in a time of 2:24:03.

Steyn’s previous mark stood at 2:25:28 which she posted in 2021.

There was double joy for 33-year-old Steyn who also achieved the qualifying marathon standard (2:26:50) for next year’s Paris Olympic Games.

It’s been a memorable year for Steyn who set a new record of 3:29:06 at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town in April and also broke Frith van der Merwe’s long-standing ‘down’ record at the Comrades Marathon in Durban in June, stopping the clock in 5:44:54.

ALSO READ | Two Oceans Marathon | Gerda Steyn: ‘Best. Day. EVER!’

Meanwhile, also competing in the women’s race in Valencia, Irvette van Zyl finished 39th in 2:27:29.

The women’s race was won by Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa in 2:15:51.

Meanwhile, the men’s race was won by another Ethiopian, Sisay Lemma, in a blistering 2:01:48.

The leading South African finisher was Adam Lipschitz in 56th place in 2:13:01 in what was his marathon debut.

MUST READ | Two Oceans Marathon result: Gerda Steyn smashes course record