ICYMI: Gerda Steyn’s Two Ocean

South Africa’s Gerda Steyn claimed a hat-trick of Two Oceans Marathon titles in Cape Town on Easter Sunday – and in record-breaking fashion! Photo: Twitter @2OceansMarathon

ICYMI: Gerda Steyn’s Two Oceans Marathon Strava numbers are INSANE!

South Africa’s Gerda Steyn claimed a hat-trick of Two Oceans Marathon titles in Cape Town on Easter Sunday – and in record-breaking fashion!

ICYMI: Gerda Steyn’s Two Ocean

South Africa’s Gerda Steyn claimed a hat-trick of Two Oceans Marathon titles in Cape Town on Easter Sunday – and in record-breaking fashion! Photo: Twitter @2OceansMarathon

South Africa’s Gerda Steyn claimed a hat-trick of Two Oceans Marathon titles in Cape Town on Easter Sunday – and in record-breaking fashion!

READ | TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON RESULTS: ZIMBABWE RUNNERS DOMINATE

Steyn became the first woman in 23 years – since Lesotho’s Angelina Sephooa – to win three races in a row, triumphing in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

There were no races in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19.

Gerda Steyn became the first to break the 3:30 barrier

In addition, she became the first woman to break the magical 3:30 barrier in the 56km race, stopping the clock on the UCT rugby fields in a time of 3:29:42.

In doing so she broke Frith van der Merwe’s 33-year-old record of 3:30:36 – albeit on a different route.

WATCH | GERDA STEYN DOWNS A BEER AFTER RECORD-BREAKING RUN

“The record stays home. I’m really proud and humbled by that,” Steyn said afterwards.

“It was very tactical. I’ve been focusing on marathons over the past few years so I didn’t always feel so strong, but it worked out.”

Besides her sponsor’s bonuses, Steyn took home R500 000 for her victory, thanks to the winner’s prize of R250 000 and an additional R250 000 for breaking the record.

READ | GERDA STEYN SMASHES TWO OCEANS MARATHON RECORD

Running a time of 3:29:42 for 56km, one would expect some fast kilometre splits, but Steyn’s stats were off the charts!

The 32-year-old took to Twitter to ‘make it official’, posting her Strava times for each kilometre of her race.

For interest’s sake, Steyn’s fastest kilometre was the 49th which she covered in 3:17, closely followed by the 52nd in 3:18.

Her slowest kilometre was the 46th in 5:10 as she ascended Constantia Nek.