Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 125, December 2019 | Page 10

ROAD RUNNING
Wonder
Wom an
It had already been one hell of a year on the roads
for Gerda Steyn. The supremely talented 29-year-
old narrowly missed out on the long-standing course
record in defence of her Two Oceans Marathon title,
then shattered the Up Run record at the Comrades
Marathon as she became the only women ever to have
gone under six hours on the gruelling route from
Durban to Pietermaritzburg. But she wasn’t done for
2019... not by a long shot! She then smashed new
PBs over the half marathon and 10km distances,
and in November she put the proverbial cherry
on the cake for the year. At the TCS New York
City Marathon, her scintillating run saw her not
only post a comfortable Olympic Qualifier, but
also became the fourth-fastest ever South African
female marathoner. All in one year! Is it any
wonder that Gerda is being hailed as the Wonder
Woman of 2019? – BY MANFRED SEIDLER
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ISSUE 125 DECEMBER 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za