"The gamble paid off" - Course records shattered as King Kusche and Steyn reign at Comrades Marathon

In the build up to the Comrades Marathon, many pundits predicted that the men's race would produce its fastest finishing time in the history of the century old race. The results of Sunday 14 June confirmed this as both the men's and women's records were shattered in astonishing fashion. Nedbank Running Club elite athlete George Kusche delivered a remarkable 5:15:56 to eclipse Leonid Shvetsov’s previous mark of 5:24:49 set in 2008. 

The 27-year-old Kusche has been in great form this year winning the Biogen 21km in a new course record as well as the Balwin Run Series Peninsula Marathon in a personal best time of 2 hours and 15 minutes, while finishing fourth at the Totalsports Two Oceans Half-Marathon powered by BYD behind three Kenyans. Riding a wave of high confidence Kusche told the media that he won because he took a chance and attacked the race earlier than he had initially planned.

Champions of The Ultimate Human Race. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"Comrades is a nerve-wracking experience. This past week it was very hard to think about anything except the Comrades. I'm very grateful that everything worked out as planned. Comrades is a very tough race so you can't take it for granted. It was a bit of a gamble by going out early but luckily it paid off this time around," explained Kusche, who clocked 5:41:23 for twelfth position during last year’s Down Run.

2024 Champion Piet Wiersma took the runner-up spot in 5:19:36 for his third second place finish in four starts. After overtaking Mbuti Mollo who led the race for the longest time, The Flying Dutchman had to field questions about whether he had miscalculated and left his move too late.

"I delivered the best possible performance I could have today after having a few setbacks during my preparation. So I am satisfied with my performance" he explained. "George was the best athlete on the day and deserved to win." After being overtaken by Kusche and Wiersma, early pacemaker Mollo dug deep to finish in a spirited 5:21:31 for third place.

Mollo who competes for the Maxed Elite Running Club and hails from Frankfort in the northern Free State Province where some of South Africa’s best long distance runners like former Soweto Marathon winner Michael Mazibuko and Pule Sibeko come from, described the moment as the best of his career. 

"I came into the race as the pacesetter and I was going to pull out at the 50km mark. When I reached the 50km, I felt as strong as ever and decided to continue to the finish the race."

In the women's race, the queen of long distance running Gerda Steyn etch her name into yet another page of Comrades Marathon history as she delivered a resounding 5:44:53 to better her 2024 Up Run record of 5:49:46. 

"It’s what I have been dreaming and working for since the start of the year. It was amazing day on the route. I know I said in the pre-race press conference on Thursday, that I'm going to run this Comrades as it my last race and thats what I did. After crossing the finish line, I know for a fact it was far not my last time. I can't imagine my life without this race."

Finishing as the runner-up and earning her first ever Comrades Marathon podium finish, Entsika AC’s Nobuhle Nobukhosi Tshuma was the only other woman to dip under 6 hours - she clocked 5:53:36. Steyn's Hollywood AC teammate Irvette Van Zyl took third place on her Up run debut in 6:02:30.