Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S Nobukhosi Tshuma delivered a remarkable performance to finish second at the 2026 Comrades Marathon in South Africa yesterday.
Tshuma crossed the finish line with a time of 5 hours, 53 minutes, 36 seconds to become the first Zimbabwean woman to achieve a top three finish at the world’s iconic ultra-marathon that tests endurance and determination.
The Comrades Marathon, described as the ultimate human race, attracts participants from across the world, and Tshuma showed courage and determination to finish second, underlining her status among top ultra-marathon runners.
For Tshuma, yesterday’s achievement comes two months after another encouraging showing at the Two Oceans Marathon.
The Zimbabwean runner secured a third-place finish in the 56km ultra-marathon in April.
This year’s edition of the Comrades Marathon was an up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg with the official distance being 85.777km.
According to the race’s official website, it was the shortest up-run distance in recent Comrades Marathon history, as the previous shortest race distance was 85.910km in the 2024 up run.
Tshuma made her debut at the Comrades Marathon in 2024 and placed fifth with a time of 6 hours 12 minutes 18 seconds.
One of the country’s leading female long-distance runners Fortunate Chidzivo lauded Tshuma for her exceptional showing yesterday.
They competed together at the CBZ Marathon last year in Harare.
“It’s really a proud moment for her.
“As women she has made us proud, this is something encouraging and motivating for us. We now know that anything is possible, you just need to keep pushing.
“In 2024 she finished fifth, last year she couldn’t finish, but this year she stormed to victory, and it shows that patience and hard work pays off,” said Chidzivo.
South Africa’s Gerda Steyn stormed to victory in 5 hours 44 minutes 53 seconds breaking her own record in the up run of 5 hours 49 minutes 46 seconds set in 2024.
For Steyn this was her fifth Comrades Marathon title.
On third place was another South African, Irvette Van Zyl, who clocked 6 hours 2 minutes 30 seconds.
It was also a good day for Zimbabwe’s Loveness Madziva, who finished fifth in 6 hours 9 minutes 54 seconds. Naomi’s Robinson from the United Kingdom was fourth in 6 hours 7 minutes 55 seconds.
In the men’s category South Africa’s George Kusche was the first to cross the finish line in 5 hours 15 minutes 56 seconds, setting a new up run record. It was his second Comrades having finished 12th last year.
He was followed by Piet Wiersma from the Netherlands in 5 hours 19 minutes 36 seconds, and Mbuti Mollo from South Africa came third in 5 hours 21 minutes 31 seconds.
Yesterday’s race saw several Zimbabwean distance runners taking part, but it was Tshuma and Madziva who produced outstanding performances.
Zimbabwean runners have over the years participated in the Comrades Marathon, and Stephen Muzhingi remains the most outstanding, having won the race three times in a row from 2009- 2011.
Veteran runner Mike Fokorani in 2016 placed fourth.
