TOP 10 STATS
SA ’ s Fastest 50km Performances
This week we include a list of the all-time top ten SA men and women in the 50km , with secondary performances for the top three also listed . All the times were run in South Africa , with many of the men ’ s times being posted in Gqeberha / Port Elizabeth ( thanks to the Nedbank Runified 50km ), whereas Cape Town dominates the women ’ s list , thanks to the intermediate 50km timing point in the Two Oceans Marathon . In the men ’ s list , two-time Comrades Marathon winner Tete Dijana holds the current SA Record , and his second-fastest time is the 11th-best time by a South African , hence also appearing on this list . In contrast , the top three women – Irvette van Zyl , Frith van der Merwe and Gerda Steyn – dominate the women ’ s list , with 14 times among them . Steyn leads with six performances . ( Stats correct as at 25 September 2024 )
ALL-TIME 50KM : TOP 10 MEN 1 2:39:03 Tete Dijana Gqeberha , 26 Feb 23 2 2:39:40 Onalenna Khonkhobe Gqeberha , 26 Feb 23
ALL-TIME 50 KM : TOP 10 WOMEN 1 3:04:24 Irvette van Zyl Port Elizabeth , 23 May 21 2 3:04:30A Frith van der Merwe Pretoria , 5 Aug 89
|
3 2:40:13 Stephen Mokoka Port Elizabeth , 6 Mar 22
4 2:42:14 Jonas Makhele Port Elizabeth , 23 May 21
5 2:42:17 Ntsindiso Mphakathi Port Elizabeth , 23 May 21
6 2:42:57 Sbusiso Kubheka Port Elizabeth , 23 May 21
7 2:43:12 Bongmusa Mthembu Port Elizabeth , 23 May 21
|
3 3:06:33 3:07:48 3:07:49 3:08:22 3:08:39 3:08:47 3:10:22 |
Gerda Steyn Gerda Steyn ( 2 ) Irvette van Zyl ( 2 ) Irvette van Zyl ( 3 ) Frith van der Merwe ( 2 ) Gerda Steyn ( 3 ) Gerda Steyn ( 4 ) |
Cape Town , 13 Apr 24 Cape Town , 15 Apr 23 Cape Town , 13 Apr 24 Cape Town , 17 Apr 22 Cape Town , 25 Mar 89 Cape Town , 17 Apr 22 Cape Town , 20 Apr 19 |
|
8 2:43:38 Thompson Magawana Cape Town , 2 Apr 88
9 2:43:46 Daniel Matshailwe Port Elizabeth , 23 May 21
|
|
|
10 2:44:03A 2:44:09
Tete Dijana
Josiah Thugwane Tete Dijana ( 2 )
|
|
|
Loskop Dam , 23 Apr 05 Port Elizabeth , 6 Mar 22
Irvette van Zyl
|
4 3:12:50 3:13:22 3:16:16
5 3:16:18 3:16:33 3:16:35 3:16:57A
|
Stella Marais Irvette van Zyl ( 4 ) Gerda Steyn ( 5 )
Nontokozo Mkhize Gerda Steyn ( 6 ) Irvette van Zyl ( 5 ) Frith van der Merwe ( 3 )
|
Gqeberha , 26 Feb 23 Port Elizabeth , 6 Mar 22 Hartbeespoort , 16 Mar 24
Port Elizabeth , 23 May 21 Cape Town , 31 Mar 18 Cape Town , 20 Apr 19 Pretoria , 6 Aug 88
|
6 |
3:17:31A |
Paulina Phaho |
Loskop Dam , 24 Apr 04 |
7 |
3:17:59 |
Jenet Mbhele |
Cape Town , 13 Apr 24 |
8 |
3:18:02 |
Adele Broodryk |
Gqeberha , 26 Feb 23 |
9 |
3:19:06A |
Riana van Niekerk |
Loskop Dam , 17 Apr 10 |
10 |
3:19:19 |
Carla Molinaro |
Cape Town , 13 Apr 24 |
International History On this day … 15 October 1968
The extremely high altitude of the Olympic Games in Mexico City was a significant disadvantage for distance runners from low elevations , and meant that athletes like Jim Ryun ( USA ), Ron Clarke ( Australia ), Ron Hill ( Great Britain ) and George Young ( USA ) had no chance . But the 800m is on the borderline of where the altitude is an advantage ( as in the sprints ) and a disadvantage ( as in the distance races ) and here the gold medal – and
World Record – went to Australia ’ s Ralph Doubell in a classic race . Down five metres at 600m to Kenyan frontrunner Wilson Kiprugut ( first 400m in 51.0 ), Doubell clawed his way back to finish in 1:44.3 ( 1:44.40 electronic ) and equal Peter Snell ’ s world-leading mark . Doubell had never broken 1:46 before the Games , and this was the first 800m World Record run on a synthetic track . Tom Farrell ( USA ) was third .
KEY | A - Aided course , e . g . point-to-point , and therefore not record-legal .
South African Road List Leaders for 2024 ( As at 7 October 2024 )
This section lists the best South African performances for 2024 in each of the officially recognised road racing distances .
MEN
10km |
27:36 |
Maxime Chaumeton |
Brosov , 22 Sep |
15km |
44:23 |
Thabang Mosiako |
Le Puy-en-Velay , 5 May |
21.1km |
1:01:42 |
Thabang Mosiako |
Lisbon , 17 Mar |
30km |
1:37:15A |
Raydon Balie |
Cape Town , 21 Jan |
42.2km |
2:08:56 |
Elroy Gelant |
Seville , 18 Feb |
50km |
2:47:01A |
Puseletso Mofokeng |
Klerksdorp , 4 May |
WOMEN
10km |
31:12 |
Glenrose Xaba |
Durban , 7 July |
15km |
55:02 |
Cian Oldknow |
Germiston , 7 July |
21.1km |
1:09:26A |
Dominique Scott-Efurd |
Mesa , 10 Feb |
30km |
2:00:44 |
Carla Molinaro |
Simon ’ s Town , 11 Aug |
42.2km |
2:25:08 |
Cian Oldknow |
Seville , 18 Feb |
50km |
3:06:33 |
Gerda Steyn |
Cape Town , 13 Apr |
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 .
9