PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — The 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon, and the historic 50th “Up Run”, delivered an unforgettable spectacle of human endurance today, culminating in a spectacular South African double. Data scientist George Kusche and the reigning queen of the road, Gerda Steyn, not only claimed the ultimate ultramarathon titles but completely rewrote the record books on the punishing route from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
Men's Race: The Data Scientist Who Calculated a Masterclass
In what can only be described as a perfectly executed tactical triumph, 27-year-old George Kusche (Nedbank Running Club) clinched the men’s title in his very first “Up Run.” Crossing the finish line in a staggering 05:15:56, Kusche obliterated the 18-year-old course record of 05:24:49 set by Russian Leonid Shvetsov in 2008.
Maintaining an astonishing average pace of 3:41 min/km, Kusche passed the halfway mark at Drummond in 02:45:13. However, the race was far from a solo procession. Fellow South African debutant Mbuti Mollo broke away early, opening a daunting seven-minute lead over the chasing pack by the 60km mark.
Kusche’s elite track speed—having transitioned from a sub-four-minute miler to an ultra-endurance athlete—proved to be his ultimate weapon. He methodically hunted Mollo down, making his decisive, unstoppable move past the fading leader with just over 10km remaining, near the gruelling Polly Shortts climb.
“I couldn’t believe with still 2km to go that I was going to win the race,” Kusche remarked in his post-race interview. “The speed training I did during the season really helped. I felt I was going a bit slow in those last kilometres, but when seeing the times, I was surprised to see my kilometre splits were still pretty quick.”
Mollo showed immense grit, battling through brief walking breaks after the 68km mark to bravely hold on for third place in 05:21:31, securing the position of the first KwaZulu-Natal athlete home. Dutchman Piet Wiersma, the 2024 champion, displayed his characteristic late-race surge, chasing hard to claim second place in 05:19:36.
George Kusche: Elite Athlete Profile Spotlight
Kusche’s background is as impressive off the road as it is on it. The Malalane-born runner is a rare hybrid athlete who balances a highly demanding professional career with world-class endurance running.
Profile Category | Details |
Education | BSc in Actuarial Sciences & Statistics (Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln); MSc in Statistics (Northern Arizona Univ.) |
Profession | Full-time Data Scientist |
Track Pedigree | 800m (1:47.45); Mile (3:57.74); 5000m (13:28.95) |
Comrades History | 2025: 12th place (5:41:23) | 2026: 1st place & Up Run Record (5:15:56) |
Women's Race: Steyn’s Unstoppable Reign Continues
The women’s race belonged to the undisputed queen of South African road running, Gerda Steyn. Claiming her fifth Comrades Marathon title, and her fourth consecutive victory, Steyn crossed the line with her trademark radiant smile in a breathtaking time of 05:44:53.
Not only did she crush her own “Up Run” record (05:49:46 set in 2024), but she also achieved the phenomenal feat of finishing 5th overall among all competitors, clocking an incredible average pace of 4:01 min/km.
Unlike previous years where she ran largely unchallenged, Steyn faced fierce early competition today. Zimbabwe’s Nobukhosi Tshuma applied serious pressure, pushing the champion for the first 55 to 60 kilometres. Ultimately, Steyn’s unmatched course knowledge, relentless stride, and effortless technique prevailed as she broke away, looking as comfortable in the final kilometre as she did in the first.
“This was one of my more comfortable runs that went according to plan,” Steyn stated at the finish line, showing virtually no signs of fatigue. When asked about her future ambitions in the Ultimate Human Race, her answer was a warning to her rivals: “I cannot wait to line up again, and just run my best times again.”
2026 Comrades Marathon Podium Results
Men’s Top 3
- 1st: George Kusche (RSA) — 05:15:56 (New Up Run Record)
- 2nd: Piet Wiersma (NED) — 05:19:36
- 3rd: Mbuti Mollo (RSA) — 05:21:31
Women’s Winner
- 1st: Gerda Steyn (RSA) — 05:44:53 (New Up Run Record / 5th Overall)
- 2nd: Nobukhosi Tshuma (ZIM) — 05:53:36
- 3rd: Irvette Van Zyl (RSA) — 06:02:30
A Lucrative Victory:
Both Kusche and Steyn’s record-breaking heroics have earned them substantial financial rewards. With R925,000 allocated for the win, plus an additional R605,000 incentive for breaking the “Up Run” records, today’s triumphant athletes will be taking home massive paydays to match their hard-earned gold medals.
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