This month we include a list of the top ten SA women in the 50km for 2024 . Secondary performances by the top three are also listed , and list-leader Gerda Steyn is the only athlete with more than one time . Current IAU World 50km Champion Carla Molinaro has both SA and British citizenship , hence her inclusion in this list .

TOP 10 STATS

While some of these times were posted in 50km races , like the Om Die Dam 50km in Hartbeespoort and the Nedbank Runified 50km in Gqeberha , the 50km mark in the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon is record eligible , and six of the top 11 times were posted in the 56km Cape ultra .

2024 50KM : TOP 10 WOMEN 1 3:06:33 Gerda Steyn Cape Town , 13 Apr

2 3:07:49 3:16:16

Irvette van Zyl Steyn ( 2 )

Cape Town , 13 Apr Hartbeespoort , 16 Mar

Gerda Steyn

This is one of the most significant days in the history of athletics , as it was on this day , now 70 years ago , that Britain ’ s Roger Bannister ran the first sub-4-minute mile . The World Record for the mile ( 1609 metres ) had remained ‘ stuck ’ at just over four minutes for a number of years , but Bannister famously locked 3:59.4 on the famous Iffley track in Oxford , to finally break through the four-minute barrier .

KEY | A - AIDED COURSE , E . G . POINT-TO-POINT

Roger Bannister & John Landy

Australia ’ s John Landy bettered the World Record just 46 days later , clocking 3:58.0 , and when the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games took place two months later in Vancouver , Canada , the men ’ s mile was one of the most anticipated , as Bannister and Landy would be racing each other . In an epic battle that was instantly dubbed the “ Miracle Mile ,” Landy appeared to have clinched the sprint finish , but when he looked over his left shoulder , just before the line , to check on his opponent , the Bannister passed him on the right and gained a small but decisive lead . The Brit took the gold medal in 3:58.8 to Landy ’ s 3:59.6 , and it was the first time that two athletes clocked a sub-four in the same event .

South African Road List Leaders for 2024 ( As at 13 May 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 .

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