Gerda Steyn, the darling of South African long distance running, smashed her own South African marathon record at the Valencia Marathon. Photo: Twitter @gerdarun
Last medal chance? Gerda Steyn runs TONIGHT!
The Tokyo Olympic women’s marathon will start at 23:00 on Friday SA time, an hour earlier than scheduled due to the forecast stamina-sapping heat and humidity in Sapporo.
Gerda Steyn, the darling of South African long distance running, smashed her own South African marathon record at the Valencia Marathon. Photo: Twitter @gerdarun
The Tokyo Olympic women’s marathon will start at 06:00 local time on Saturday (23:00 on Friday SA time), an hour earlier than scheduled due to the forecast stamina-sapping heat and humidity in Sapporo.
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The change is “to allow for slightly cooler weather for runners”, a statement from organisers explained.
At the new start time it is forecast to be 25 degrees Celsius, rising to 28 degrees by 08:00, then 30 degrees an hour later, with 90 percent humidity.
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The men’s marathon on Sunday remains at its 07:00 (midnight on Saturday SA time) scheduled time.
Organisers moved the marathons from the capital to avoid Tokyo’s punishing summer heat.
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South Africa will have two runners in the women’s marathon – Gerda Steyn and Irvette van Zyl – is what is one of the country’s final opportunities to add to their current medal tally of one gold and two silvers.
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