List of winners of the Comrades Marathon

The Comrades Marathon results show over a century of competitive endurance running. Bill Rowan won the first race in 1921 in 8:59:00, and Arthur Newton dominated the 1920s with five wins.[1] Wally Hayward and Bruce Fordyce became major figures, with Hayward winning five times across the 1930s to 1950s,[2] and Fordyce winning nine times in the 1980s.[3] The women’s race, officially recognised from 1975, saw standout performances like Frith van der Merwe’s 5:54:43 in 1989, a record that stood for decades.[4] In the 2000s, Russian athletes Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva were dominant, winning most of the women's races between 2003 and 2015.[5]

From 2014 onwards, South African athletes began winning more consistently. Bongmusa Mthembu won three titles,[6] and David Gatebe set the men’s down run record of 5:18:19 in 2016.[7] Gerda Steyn has become the leading figure in the women’s field, breaking the down run record in 2023 (5:44:54) and the up run record in 2024 (5:49:46).[8][9] On the men’s side, Tete Dijana broke the down run record on his way to his second victory in 2023,[8] while Dutch runner Piet Wiersma won in 2024 and finished second in 2023.[10] Since the end of COVID-related cancellations in 2020 and 2021, the race has returned with faster times and stronger fields, both local and international.

To date, Bruce Fordyce holds the record for the most men's victories with nine wins, while Elena Nurgalieva leads the women's field with eight wins.

Race Winners

Key:   Current course record

Past Comrades winners
Year u/d Time (Men) Men's Champion Club Time (Women) Women's Champion Club Notes
2025 d 5:25:28 South Africa Tete Dijana3 Nedbank RC 5:51.19 South Africa Gerda Steyn4 Hollywood Bets RC
2024 u 5:25:00 Netherlands Piet Wiersma Nedbank RC 5:49.46 South Africa Gerda Steyn3 Phantane AC [11]
2023 d 5:13:58 South Africa Tete Dijana2 Nedbank RC 5:44.54 South Africa Gerda Steyn2 Phantane AC [12]
2022 d 5:30:38 South Africa Tete Dijana Nedbank RC GN 6:17:48 Russia Alexandra Morozova International [13]
— cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic [14][15][16]
2019 u 5:31:33 South Africa Edward Mothibi Nedbank RC GN 5:58:53 South Africa Gerda Steyn Nedbank RC JHB
2018 d 5:26:34 South Africa Bongmusa Mthembu3 Arthur Ford AC 6:10:03 South Africa Ann Ashworth Massmart AC CG
2017 u 5:35:34 South Africa Bongmusa Mthembu2 Arthur Ford AC 6:27:35 United States Camille Herron Nedbank RC International
2016 d 5:18:19 South Africa David Gatebe TomTom AC 6:25:55 South Africa Charné Bosman Nedbank RC CG
2015 u 5:38:36 South Africa Gift Kelehe Samancor Chrome MC 6:12:22 South Africa Caroline Wöstmann Nedbank RC
2014 d 5:28:29 South Africa Bongmusa Mthembu Nedbank RC KZN 6:18:12 United Kingdom Eleanor Greenwood Nedbank International
2013 u 5:32:09 South Africa Claude Moshiywa Nedbank RC GN 6:27:09 Russia Elena Nurgalieva8 Maxed Elite International
2012 d 5:31:03 South Africa Ludwick Mamabolo Maxed Elite KZN 6:07:12 Russia Elena Nurgalieva7 Maxed Elite International
2011 u 5:32:45 Zimbabwe Stephen Muzhingi3 Formula 1 Bluff Meats AC 6:24:11 Russia Elena Nurgalieva6 Maxed Elite International
2010 d 5:29:01 Zimbabwe Stephen Muzhingi2 Formula 1 Bluff Meats AC 6:13:03 Russia Elena Nurgalieva5 Maxed Elite International
2009 d 5:23:27 Zimbabwe Stephen Muzhingi Formula 1 Bluff Meats AC 6:12:08 Russia Olesya Nurgalieva2 Maxed Elite International
2008 u 5:24:49 Russia Leonid Shvetsov2 Harmony International 6:14:38 Russia Elena Nurgalieva4 Maxed Elite International
2007 d 5:20:49 Russia Leonid Shvetsov Harmony International 6:10:11 Russia Olesya Nurgalieva Harmony International
2006 u 5:35:19 Russia Oleg Kharitonov Harmony International 6:09:24 Russia Elena Nurgalieva3 Russia
2005 d 5:27:10 South Africa Sipho Ngomane Harmony AC MPL 5:58:50 Russia Tatyana Zhirkova Russia
2004 u 5:31:22 Belarus Vladimir Kotov3 Maxed Elite PE 6:11:15 Russia Elena Nurgalieva2 Premier AC
2003 d 5:28:52 South Africa Fusi Nhlapo Liberty Nike AC CG 6:07:46 Russia Elena Nurgalieva Russia
2002 u 5:30:59 Belarus Vladimir Kotov2 Maxed Elite International 6:14:21 Germany Maria Bak3 Germany
2001 d 5:25:51 South Africa Andrew Kelehe Rentmeester Fattis & Monis GN 6:13:53 Russia Elvira Kolpakova Russia
2000 u 5:25:33 Belarus Vladimir Kotov Maxed Elite International 6:15:35 Germany Maria Bak2 Germany
1999 d 5:30:10 Poland Jaroslaw Janicki Maxed Elite International 6:31:03 Germany Birgit Lennartz Germany
1998 u 5:26:25 Russia Dmitri Grishin2 Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 6:38:57 South Africa Rae Bisschoff Rocky Road Runners
1997 d 5:28:37 South Africa Charl Mattheus Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 5:58:24 United States Ann Trason2 USA
1996 u 5:29:33 Russia Dmitri Grishin Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 6:13:23 United States Ann Trason USA
1995 d 5:34:02 South Africa Shaun Meiklejohn Maxed Elite KZN 6:22:57 Germany Maria Bak Germany
1994 u 5:38:39 United States Alberto Salazar USA 6:41:23 Russia Valentina Lyakhova Comrades International
1993 d 5:39:41 Germany Charly Doll Germany 6:55:07 South Africa Tilda Tearle Savages AC
1992 u 5:46:11 South Africa Jetman Msutu[note 1] unknown 6:51:05 South Africa Frances van Blerk Magnolia Road Runners
1991 d 5:40:53 South Africa Nick Bester Magnolia Road Runners 6:08:19 South Africa Frith van der Merwe3 Benoni Northerns AC
1990 u 5:40:25 South Africa Bruce Fordyce9 Rand AC 7:02:00 South Africa Naidene Harrison Ladysmith AC
1989 d 5:35:51 South Africa Samuel Tshabalala Spectrum Athletic Club 5:54:43 South Africa Frith van der Merwe2 Benoni Northerns AC
1988 u 5:27:42 South Africa Bruce Fordyce8 Rand AC 6:32:56 South Africa Frith van der Merwe Benoni Northerns AC
1987 u 5:37:01 South Africa Bruce Fordyce7 Rand AC 6:48:42 New Zealand/South Africa Helen Lucre3 Hillcrest Villagers AC
1986 d 5:24:07 South Africa Bruce Fordyce6 Rand AC 6:55:01 New Zealand/South Africa Helen Lucre2 Hillcrest Villagers AC
1985 u 5:37:01 South Africa Bruce Fordyce5 University of Witwatersrand 6:53:24 New Zealand/South Africa Helen Lucre Hillcrest Villagers AC
1984 d 5:27:18 South Africa Bruce Fordyce4 University of Witwatersrand 6:46:35 South Africa Lindsay Weight2 University of Cape Town AC
1983 u 5:30:12 South Africa Bruce Fordyce3 University of Witwatersrand 7:12:56 South Africa Lindsay Weight University of Cape Town AC
1982 d 5:34:22 South Africa Bruce Fordyce2 University of Witwatersrand 7:04:59 South Africa Cheryl Winn Pirates Road Running
1981 u 5:37:28 South Africa Bruce Fordyce University of Witwatersrand 6:44:35 South Africa Isavel Roche-Kelly2 University of Cape Town AC
1980 d 5:38:25 South Africa Alan Robb4 Germiston Callies Harriers 7:18:00 South Africa Isavel Roche-Kelly University of Cape Town AC
1979 u 5:45:02 South Africa Piet Vorster Collegians Harriers 8:22:41 South Africa Jan Mallen unknown
1978 d 5:29:14 South Africa Alan Robb3 Germiston Callies Harriers 8:25: South Africa Lettie van Zyl3 Germiston Callies Harriers
1977 u 5:47:00 South Africa Alan Robb2 Germiston Callies Harriers 8:58: South Africa Lettie van Zyl2 Germiston Callies Harriers
1976 d 5:40:53 South Africa Alan Robb Germiston Callies Harriers 9:05: South Africa Lettie van Zyl Germiston Callies Harriers
1975 u 5:53:00 South Africa Derek Preiss2 Westville AC 10:08: South Africa Elizabeth Cavanagh2 Estcourt AC
1974 u 6:02:49 South Africa Derek Preiss Westville AC 10:40: South Africa Alet Kleynhans Johannesburg Harriers AC
1973 d 5:39:09 South Africa Dave Levick University of Cape Town AC 8:40: South Africa Maureen Holland4 unknown
1972 u 5:48:57 United Kingdom Mick Orton Tipton Harriers 9:26: South Africa Maureen Holland3 unknown
1971 d 5:47:06 South Africa Dave Bagshaw3 Savages AC 8:37: South Africa Maureen Holland2 unknown
1970 u 5:51:27 South Africa Dave Bagshaw2 Savages AC 10:50: South Africa Elizabeth Cavanagh Estcourt AC
1969 d 5:45:35 South Africa Dave Bagshaw Savages AC
1968 u 6:01:11 South Africa Jack Mekler5 Germiston Callies Harriers
1967 d 5:54:10 South Africa Manie Kuhn Savages AC
1966 u 6:14:07 South Africa Tommy Malone Germiston Callies Harriers[17]: 23  9:30:00 South Africa Maureen Holland unknown
1965 d 5:51:09 United Kingdom Bernard Gomersall unknown 10:07: South Africa Mavis Hutchinson Germiston Callies Harriers
1964 u 6:09:54 South Africa Jack Mekler4 Germiston Callies Harriers
1963 d 5:51:20 South Africa Jack Mekler3 Germiston Callies Harriers
1962 u 5:57:05 United Kingdom John Smith unknown
1961 d 6:07:07 South Africa George Claassen Germiston Callies Harriers
1960 u 5:56:32 South Africa Jack Mekler2 Germiston Callies Harriers
1959 d 6:28:11 South Africa Trevor Allen2 Durban AC
1958 u 6:26:26 South Africa Jack Mekler Germiston Callies Harriers
1957 d 6:13:55 South Africa Mercer Davies Germiston Callies Harriers
1956 u 6:33:35 South Africa Gerald Walsh2 Durban AC
1955 d 6:06:32 South Africa Gerald Walsh Durban AC
1954 u 6:12:55 South Africa Wally Hayward5 Germiston Callies Harriers
1953 d 5:52:30 South Africa Wally Hayward4 Germiston Callies Harriers
1952 u 7:00:02 South Africa Trevor Allen Durban AC
1951 d 6:14:08 South Africa Wally Hayward3 Germiston Callies Harriers
1950 u 6:46:25 South Africa Wally Hayward2 Germiston Callies Harriers
1949 d 6:23:21 South Africa Reg Allison unknown
1948 u 7:13:52 South Africa William Savage2 Durban AC
1947 d 6:41:05 South AfricaHardy Ballington5 unknown
1946 u 7:02:40 South Africa Bill Cochrane2 unknown
— not held from 1941 to 1945 due to World War II
1940 u 6:39:23 South Africa Allen Boyce Durban AC
1939 d 6:22:05 South Africa Johnny Coleman2 unknown
1938 u 6:32:26 South Africa Hardy Ballington4 unknown
1937 d 6:23:11 South Africa Johnny Coleman unknown
1936 u 6:46:14 South Africa Hardy Ballington3 unknown
1935 d 6:30:05 South Africa Bill Cochrane unknown
1934 u 7:09:03 South Africa Hardy Ballington2 unknown
1933 d 6:50:37 South Africa Hardy Ballington unknown 9:31:25 South Africa Geraldine Watson3 unknown
1932 u 7:41:58 South Africa William Savage Germiston Callies Harriers 11:56:00 South Africa Geraldine Watson2 unknown
1931 d 7:16:30 South Africa Phil Masterton-Smith Natal Carbineers AC 11 hrs + South Africa Geraldine Watson unknown
1930 u 7:27:26 South Africa Wally Hayward Germiston Callies Harriers
1929 d 7:52:00 South Africa Darrell Dale unknown
1928 u 7:49:07 South Africa Frank Sutton unknown
1927 d 6:40:56 South Africa Arthur Newton5 unknown
1926 u 6:57:46 South Africa Harry Phillips unknown
1925 d 6:24:45 South Africa Arthur Newton4 unknown
1924 u 6:58:22 South Africa Arthur Newton3 unknown
1923 d 6:56:00 South Africa Arthur Newton2 unknown 11:35:00 South Africa Frances Hayward unknown
1922 u 8:40:00 South Africa Arthur Newton unknown
1921 d 8:59:00 South Africa Bill Rowan unknown
  1. ^ The 1992 race was won by Charl Mattheus, who was later disqualified, testing positive for a banned stimulant found in cough syrup. Shortly thereafter the particular stimulant was removed from the list of banned substances, but Mattheus was never reinstated as winner.

Multiple winners

'+' denotes winner of both an up and a down run

Men's champion Wins Club Women's champion Wins Club
South Africa Bruce Fordyce + 9 Wits AC, Rand AC Russia Elena Nurgalieva + 8
South Africa/United Kingdom Arthur Newton + 5 South Africa Maureen Holland + 4
South Africa Hardy Ballington + 5 South Africa Gerda Steyn + 4 Nedbank RC
South Africa Wally Hayward + 5 Germiston Callies Harriers South Africa Lettie van Zyl + 3 Germiston Callies Harriers
South Africa Jackie Mekler + 5 Germiston Callies Harriers New Zealand/South Africa Helen Lucre + 3 Hillcrest Villagers AC
South Africa Alan Robb + 4 Germiston Callies Harriers South Africa Frith van der Merwe + 3 Benoni Northerns AC
South Africa Dave Bagshaw + 3 Savages AC Germany Maria Bak + 3 Germany
Zimbabwe Stephen Muzhingi + 3 South Africa Isavel Roche-Kelly + 2 UCT AC
Belarus/South Africa Vladimir Kotov 3 South Africa Elizabeth Cavanagh 2 Estcourt AC
South Africa Bongmusa Mthembu + 3 Russia Olesya Nurgalieva 2
South Africa Tete Dijana 3 Nedbank RC United States Ann Trason + 2 USA
South Africa Johnny Coleman 2 South Africa Lindsay Weight + 2 UCT AC
South Africa Bill Cochrane + 2
South Africa Gerald Walsh + 2 Durban AC
South Africa Trevor Allen + 2 Durban AC
South Africa Derek Preiss 2 Westville AC
Russia Dmitri Grishin 2
Russia Leonid Shvetsov + 2

First South Africans

As the race has grown in profile globally, and since the end of sporting isolation, international runners have come to dominate the race for periods of time. As a result, the first South African home each year is also now awarded a separate prize.

The following have had the distinction of being the first male and female South African across the finish line (overall finishing position in brackets), in years where the winner was an international runner:

First South African Finishers in International Winner Years
Year Athlete (Men) Event Club Overall Position Athlete (Women) Event Club Overall Position
2024 Dan Moselakwe Men's Nedbank Running Club 2nd
2022 Adele Broodryk Women's Murray & Roberts AC NW 3rd
2017 Charné Bosman Women's Nedbank Running Club GN 2nd
2014 Caroline Wostmann Women's Nedbank Running Club GN 6th
2013 Charné Bosman Women's Bonitas AC CG 5th
2012 Kerry Koen Women's Bonitas AC CG 4th
2011 Fanie Matshipa Men's Samcor Marathon Club PE 2nd Farwa Mentoor Women's Bonitas AC CG 5th
2010 Ludwick Mamabolo Men's Maxed Elite CGA 2nd Farwa Mentoor Women's Bonitas AC CG 5th
2009 Charles Tjiane Men's Maxed Elite CGA 3rd Farwa Mentoor Women's Bonitas AC CG 5th
2008 Harmans Mokgadi Men's Nedbank Running Club GN 6th Riana van Niekerk Women's Maxed Elite CGA 6th
2007 Mncedisi Mkhize Men's Maxed Elite CGA 3rd Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 4th
2006 Brian Zondi Men's Harmony AC CG 2nd Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 6th
2005 Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 4th
2004 Willie Mtolo Men's Harmony AC CG 4th Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 3rd
2003 Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 8th
2002 Willie Mtolo Men's Harmony AC CG 2nd Farwa Mentoor Women's Adidas AC 4th
2001 Deborah Mattheus Women's Harmony AC GW 2nd
2000 Donovan Wright Men's Maxed Elite PE 4th Grace de Oliveira Women's Maxed Elite KZN 3rd
1999 Andrew Kelehe Men's Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 2nd Grace de Oliveira Women's Maxed Elite KZN 2nd
1998 Charl Mattheus Men's Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 2nd
1997 Charlotte Noble Women's club unknown 5th
1996 Nick Bester Men's Tuks Road Runners Club 2nd Jowaine Parrott Women's Tygervalley Bellville AC 4th
1995 Helene Joubert Women's Agape AC GN 2nd
1994 Nick Bester Men's Tuks Road Runners Club 2nd Sanet Beukes Women's Westville AC 4th
1993 Theo Rafiri Men's club unknown 2nd
1972 Dave Bagshaw Men's Savages AC 2nd
1965 Jackie Mekler Men's Germiston Callies Harriers 2nd
1962 Jackie Mekler Men's Germiston Callies Harriers 2nd

See also

References

  1. ^ Crockett, Davy (8 June 2021). "Comrades Marathon – 100 years old". Ultrarunning History. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  2. ^ Milroy, Andy (2021-07-29). "84: Wally Hayward (1908-2006) – South African Legend". Ultrarunning History. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  3. ^ Hemmonsbey, Keanan (2023-06-08). "Running the Comrades is 'a great gift that you give yourself' – nine-time winner Bruce Fordyce". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  4. ^ Etheridge, Mark (2022-08-25). "Frith's marathon record for the ages". Business Day. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  5. ^ Kok, Marizanne (2018-05-13). "Russian twins banned from Comrades". News24. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  6. ^ Mothowagae, Daniel (2018-06-10). "Bongmusa Mthembu wins a third Comrades Marathon title on Sunday". Sowetan. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  7. ^ Sherman, Michael (2016-05-29). "Gatebe smashes Comrades record". IOL. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  8. ^ a b Mamabolo, Matshelane (2023-06-11). "Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn smash long-standing Comrades Marathon records". IOL. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  9. ^ Hemmonsbey, Keenan (2024-06-09). "'It is the best day of my life' — Gerda Steyn after breaking another Comrades Marathon record". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  10. ^ "Flying Dutchman Piet Wiersma wins Comrades Marathon". Business Day. 2024-06-09. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  11. ^ Turner, Jonathan (2024-06-09). "Comrades Marathon 2024 results: Gerda Steyn takes third title and SMASHES record as Piet Wiersma wins tight battle". RUN247. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  12. ^ Hemmonsbey, Keanan (2023-06-11). "SPEEDY FINISHES: Records tumble as South Africa's Dijana and Steyn conquer the Comrades Marathon". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  13. ^ "LIVE | SA's Dijana produces tactical masterclass to win 2022 Comrades…". Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ "The 2020 Comrades Marathon Has Been Cancelled". comrades.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  15. ^ "2021 Centenary Comrades Marathon Cancelled". Archived from the original on 25 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Comrades Marathon cancelled for second year | Witness". Archived from the original on 9 March 2021.
  17. ^ Sowetan Reporter (26 April 2019). "True Comrades ambassador". The Sowetan. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.