This month ’ s Top 10 features a list of the leading SA men and women in the marathon for 2024 , with secondary performances by the top three also listed . On both lists , the current SA Champions , Elroy Gelant and Cian Oldknow , each hold the top three performances . Both were also our best performers in the recent Olympic Marathon in Paris , while Oldknow ’ s 2:25:08 in Seville in February makes her the second-fastest SA woman ever for the standard marathon , behind SA Record-holder Gerda Steyn .

2024 MARATHON : TOP 10 SA MEN

Elroy Gelant

Cian Oldknow

TOP 10 STATS

1 2:08:56 2:09:07 2:09:32

Elroy Gelant Elroy Gelant ( 2 ) Elroy Gelant ( 3 )

Seville , 18 Feb Paris , 10 Aug Durban , 28 Apr

2 2:09:47 Mathews Leeto Durban , 28 Apr

3 2:09:52 2:10:59

Stephen Mokoka Stephen Mokoka ( 2 )

Durban , 28 Apr Paris , 10 Aug

4 2:11:36 Desmond Mokgobu Milan , 7 Apr 5 2:12:24 Lesetja Papo Durban , 28 Apr

6 2:12:47 2:12:58

Tumelo Motlagale Stephen Mokoka ( 3 )

Durban , 28 Apr Hong Kong , 21 Jan

7 2:13:41 Milton Kekana Durban , 28 Apr 8 2:13:48 Adam Lipschitz Copenhagen , 5 May 9 2:14:27 Malixole Kalideni London , 21 Apr 10 2:14:29 Reghen Magwai Durban , 28 Apr

KEY | A - Aided course , e . g . point-to-point , and therefore not record-legal .

1 2:25:08 2:29:46 2:30:29

2024 MARATHON : TOP 10 SA WOMEN

Cian Oldknow Cian Oldknow ( 2 ) Cian Oldknow ( 3 )

Seville , 18 Feb Durban , 28 Apr Paris , 11 Aug

2 2:31:14 Irvette van Zyl Paris , 11 Aug 3 2:32:31A Dominique Scott-Efurd Boston , 15 Apr

4 2:32:51 2:35:37 2:39:28

5 2:42:40 2:43:50

Gerda Steyn Irvette Van Zyl ( 2 ) Cian Oldknow ( 4 )

Jenet Mbhele Irvette Van Zyl ( 3 )

Paris , 11 Aug Cape Town , 13 Apr Benoni , 28 Jan

Cape Town , 13 Apr Pretoria , 25 Feb

6 2:44:35 Carla Molinaro Cape Town , 13 Apr 7 2:46:46A Adele Broodryk Simon ' s Town , 18 Feb 8 2:46:58A Helena Joubert Ngodwana , 2 Mar 9 2:47:51A Deanne Laubscher Simon ' s Town , 18 Feb 10 2:50:25 Anene Bosman Langebaan , 16 Mar

In the early seventies of the previous century , women ’ s marathoning was still in its infancy – for example , they were only officially allowed to run the Boston Marathon in 1972 – but standards improved and times came down rapidly in that era . When the 1971 New York Marathon was held on this day , on a course in Central Park , the spotlight fell on Beth Bonner , who four months earlier had run a world fastest time of 3:01:42 in Philadelphia .

In New York , she smashed this to become the first woman under three hours , winning in 2:55:22 from fellow American Nina Kuscsik , who also dipped under three hours with her 2:56:04 . Seven months later , Kuscsik would become the first official female winner of the Boston Marathon in 3:10:26 . Before the decade ended , the World Record had gone all the way down to 2:27:33 – also run in New York , by the great Grete Waitz of Norway .

Beth Bonner

South African Road List Leaders for 2024 ( As at 26 August 2024 ) This section lists the best South African performances for 2024 in each of the officially recognised road racing distances .

MEN

WOMEN

KEY | A – Aided course , e . g . point-to-point , and therefore not record-legal .

About the Author

These stats and results are drawn from the weekly Distance Running Results mailer compiled by internationally acclaimed athletics statistician Riël Hauman , who has more than 50 years ’ experience as a journalist , author , publisher , commentator , pundit , administrator , event organiser , coach , team manager and runner in South African athletics , road running and cross country . He is also a former editor of the South African Athletics Annual , and author of two books , Hardloop en Lééf and Century of the Marathon 1896-1996 . To subscribe to his weekly newsletter , send him a mail at rielh @ mweb . co . za .

7