Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
NOBUKOSI Tshuma delivered an impressive performance when coming second at this year’s Comrades Marathon in South Africa yesterday.
Tshuma crossed the finish line in 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. Tshuma showed great 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 was an up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg with the official distance being 85.777km, making it the shortest up run distance in recent Comrades Marathon history.
According to the race’s official website, 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.
In yesterday’s race, 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 fellow 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 and 2011.
