Gerda Steyn, the ‘Smiling Assassin’, wins sixth straight Two Oceans title

Long-distance runner Gerda Steyn stole the show again on Saturday, delivering another spectacular performance as she wrapped up a record sixth successive Two Oceans ultra-marathon victory in Cape Town.

Steyn took the lead from the gun and never looked back, destroying the women’s field as she coasted home in 3:29:10.

Though she was more than two minutes outside the race record of 3:26:54 which she set last year, Steyn now holds the three fastest times ever run by a woman at the popular annual 56km event, and she is the only athlete (man or woman) to win the race six times.

The 35-year-old athlete, a two-time Olympian and three-time winner of the Comrades Marathon, further cemented her place as the best women’s ultra-distance runner South Africa has ever produced.

Shelmith Muriuki of Kenya was well behind Steyn in second place, finishing in 3:37:50, and Neheng Khatala of Lesotho (who won last year’s Soweto Marathon) was third in 3:40:38.

“It was once again a fantastic race and I’m really pleased with the win,” said Steyn, who was waving at the crowd with her usual beaming smile as she approached the finish.

“I’m really pleased with the win. I tried to be a little bit tactical, going really fast at the beginning, which was completely on my plan and it worked.

“It was tough for me and everyone else with such a fast start, but I’m really proud of how it went today.”

Men’s race

In the men’s race, Steyn’s Hollywood Athletics Club teammate Khoarahlane Seutloali of Lesotho took the win in 3:10:46 after a tight tactical battle.

With four men having broken away from a large pack before the 50km mark, Seutloali edged clear in the closing stages to secure a narrow victory.

Siboniso Sikhakhane was half-a-minute off the pace, crossing the finish line in second position in 3:11:17, as the first South African home, and former South African half-marathon champion Lucky Mohale was third in his Two Oceans debut in 3:11:26.

Two Oceans results

Men: 1 Khoarahlane Seutloali (LES) 3:10:46, 2 Siboniso Sikhakhane (RSA) 3:11:17, 3 Lucky Mohale (RSA) 3:11:26, 4 Nkosikhona Mhalkwana (RSA) 3:11:52, 5 Mphatso Nadolo (MAL) 3:12:08, 6 Lebello Mopenyane (LES) 3:12:44, 7 Lebenya Nkoka (LES) 3:13:06, 8 Lekhotla Pulinyana (LES) 3:13:40, 9 Sithembiso Mqhele (RSA) 3:14:12, 10 Pule Sibeko (RSA) 3:14:56

Women: 1 Gerda Steyn (RSA) 3:29:10, 2 Shelmith Muriuki (KEN) 3:37:50, 3 Neheng Khatala (LES) 3:40:38, 4 Carla Molinaro (GBR) 3:43:44, 5 Dikeledi Majara (LES) 3:46:23, 6 Nobuhle Tshuma (ZIM) 3:51:12, 7 Worke Amena (ETH) 3:51:56, 8 Meseret Biru (ETH) 3:35:18, 9 Landie Greyling (RSA) 3:57:38, 10 Deanne Laubscher (RSA) 3:59:11