By Adnaan Mohamed
PIETERMARITZBURG – George Kusche and Gerda Steyn delivered one of the most remarkable days in Comrades Marathon history on Sunday, smashing long-standing Up Run records and each walking away with more than R2.3 million in prize money and incentive bonuses.
On a shortened 85.777km route, the fastest in recorded Up Run history, expectations of rapid times proved well founded as both champions produced performances that rewrote the record books.
Kusche stormed to victory in 5:15:56, obliterating the previous men’s Up Run record of 5:24:49 set by Leonid Shvetsov in 2008. His average pace of 3:40.99 per kilometre also eclipsed Vladimir Kotov’s long-standing benchmark for the best average pace.
Dutch defending champion Piet Wiersma finished second in 5:19:36, with South Africa’s Mbuti Mollo taking third in 5:21:31 after leading for much of the race. Great Britain’s Alex Milne and Japan’s Haruki Okayama also dipped beneath the previous course record, underlining the extraordinary pace of the contest.
For Kusche, the victory only became real at the finish line.
“I honestly didn’t believe I was going to win until I crossed the finish line. Comrades is extremely hard mentally, and there was no way I could know that they were not going to catch me, so I pushed as hard as I could and hoped that nobody would pass me.”
The South African, who finished 12th on debut a year ago, made his decisive move after Mollo began to struggle late in the race and never looked back.
“Comrades is a nerve-wrecking experience. This past week it was very hard to think about anything except the Comrades, and I’m very grateful that everything worked out as planned. It’s a bit of a gamble by going out early, but luckily it paid off this time around,” he said.
Steyn was equally dominant in the women’s race, clocking 5:44:53 to improve on the Up Run record she established in 2024. She also lowered her own best average pace mark while securing a fifth Comrades title, made up of three Up Run victories and two Down Run triumphs.
“It is an honour to come away with another Comrades Marathon win and a new course record. It’s what I have been dreaming of and working for since the start of the year,” Steyn said.
“I ran this Comrades as if it was my last race, but after crossing the finish line I already know it was far from my last. I can’t imagine my life without this race and I’m already looking forward to the 2027 centenary edition.”
Zimbabwe’s Nobukhosi Tshuma claimed second in 5:53:36 after overcoming significant personal sacrifices during her preparation, while South Africa’s Irvette van Zyl completed the podium in 6:02:30.
The record-breaking performances also produced record-breaking rewards.
Kusche and Steyn each earned R2.322 million through victory prize money, the Cell C top-up, first South African incentives, Up Run record bonuses and the Cell C average pace incentive.
Comrades Marathon Association general manager Alain Dalais described the event as an outstanding rehearsal for next year’s centenary edition.
“We are incredibly proud of the 2026 race and our two record-breaking winners. George Kusche lived up to the pre-race expectation by shattering the men’s Up Run record, while Gerda Steyn joined some of the most illustrious legends of this great race with five wins.
“It was a fantastic elite race with record-breaking performances and a truly fitting spectacle for the 50th edition of the Up Run.”
Results of the 2026 Comrades Marathon
Top 10 Men
1 George Kusche Nedbank Running Club GN South Africa 5:15:56
2 Piet Wiersma Nedbank Running Club International Netherlands 5:19:36
3 Mbuti Mollo Maxed Elite KZN South Africa 5:21:31
4 Alex Milne Nedbank Running Club International Great Britain 5:22:29
5 Haruki Okayama Nedbank Running Club International Japan 5:24:46
6 Charles Lawrence adidas United States of America 5:27:08
7 Lloyd Bosman Nedbank Running Club SWD South Africa 5:28:53
8 Nikolai Volkov Nedbank Running Club International ANA 5:28:59
9 Vasilii Korytkin Kemerovo Runners ANA 5:29:29
10 Tebogo Pulusa Dwarsrivier Mine Athletic Club South Africa 5:29:40
Top 10 Women
1 Gerda Steyn Hollywood Athletic Club CGA South Africa 5:44:53
2 Nobukhosi Tshuma Entsika Zimbabwe 5:53:36
3 Irvette van Zyl Hollywood Athletic Club CGA South Africa 6:02:30
4 Shelmith Muruiki Entsika Kenya 6:06:38
5 Naomi Robinson Nedbank Running Club International Great Britain 6:07:55
6 Loveness Madziva Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 6:09:54
7 Courtney Olsen Hollywood Athletic Club International United States of America 6:11:20
8 Dikiledi Majara Nedbank Running Club AFS Lesotho 6:12:29
9 Jenet Mbhele Umzimkhulu Striders South Africa 6:13:08
10 Carla Molinaro Hollywood Athletic Club International Great Britain 6:14:04