South African ultramarathon runner Gerda Steyn won the women's race of the 2026 Comrades Marathon on Sunday, setting a new course record [1, 2, 3].

The victory marks a significant milestone in distance running, as Steyn surpassed her own previous benchmark to redefine the limits of the women's category. The race took place on the up-run route from Durban to Pietermaritzburg [4, 5].

Steyn crossed the finish line with a winning time of 5:44:53 [1]. This performance broke the previous women's record of 5:49:46, which Steyn had established in 2024 [1].

Following the race, Steyn said her success was due to a disciplined approach to her pacing and strategy. She said the effort was one of her most comfortable performances to date [1, 3].

"Sticking to my race plan paid off," Steyn said [6].

The Comrades Marathon is one of the world's most grueling ultramarathons, alternating annually between a down-run and an up-run. The 2026 event saw two South Africans secure record-breaking wins in their respective categories [3]. Steyn's ability to maintain a record pace on the challenging ascent to Pietermaritzburg underscores her current dominance in the sport [3, 5].

“"Sticking to my race plan paid off."”

Steyn's repeated breaking of her own records suggests a shift in the performance ceiling for women's ultramarathons. By shaving nearly five minutes off the previous record on a demanding up-run, she demonstrates an increasing gap between herself and the rest of the field, cementing her status as the premier athlete in this specific discipline.