Golden Gerda: All eyes on SA's marathon queen with Frith's Comrades record in danger

South Africa's Gerda Steyn was all smiles on Friday, placed front and centre of the 2023 Comrades Marathon's elite runner's press conference in Durban as she enters this year's women's race as the overwhelming favourite. 

To Steyn's left was last year's winner, Alexandra Morozova, who had to overcome the hugest obstacles in 2022 on her way to a maiden Comrades victory. 

Morozova was initially barred from competing on a murky directive from World Athletics because she is Russian, but she spectacularly had that decision overturned via a court order on the eve of the race. 

Morozova was comfortably the headline story of Comrades 2022, but this year, the bright lights are shining down on South Africa's marathon queen, Steyn.

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In 2019, Steyn became the first woman to complete the Comrades up-run in under six hours, smashing the field and securing a famous win. That was the last time she ran this race. 

She has landed four straight Two Oceans titles since and many critics are tipping her to break Frith van der Merwe's down-run record of 5:54:43 set all the way back in 1989. 

"It's an honour to be back at the Comrades. It's left a big hole in my heart and my life, especially missing the race last year," said Steyn on Friday.

"I'm really grateful. I have fond memories of my last run back in 2019. That day changed my life and changed everything and something inside me. I've been craving that since that day.

"To be here now, two days away from having that opportunity again, is an honour and I'm really excited."

#Comraded2023 elite athletes briefing underway at @southernsunhotels Maharani #ThisIsIt #Ziyasha #running pic.twitter.com/Ppez0PxY3y

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