South Africas most iconic ultra-marathon lit up the streets between Pietermaritzburg and Durban as the 98th Comrades Marathon shattered expectations with massive crowds, elite performances, and a prize purse that turned heads.
On Sunday, 8 June, nearly 21 000 runners braved the gruelling 89.98km 'Down Run', with an electric atmosphere surrounding the historic race that's now just two years away from its centenary edition.
The race, managed by the Comrades Marathon Association CMA, saw 18 194 runners complete the course, an impressive 86.75 finish rate. Roadside support was overwhelming, with tens of thousands of spectators and hundreds of volunteers lining the route to cheer on the runners.
Among the finishers, two familiar names rose above the rest: Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn. Dijana, claiming his third title after wins in 2022 and 2023, finished in a swift 5:25:28. Steyn cemented her legendary status with a fourth win, finishing in 5:51:19. Each took home a staggering R1.14 million after combining race winnings with various incentive prizes, as per The Daily Investor .
The CMA used this year's event as a test run for the highly anticipated 100th edition in 2027. This included implementing the first-ever split start in Comrades history to ease congestion and ensure better safety, a move that was widely praised.