Sensational Gerda Steyn obliterates course record to claim third Two Oceans title

Gerda Steyn cemented her status as the darling of South African road running by spectacularly claiming a record-breaking third consecutive Two Oceans Marathon title in Cape Town on a sunny Sunday morning.

The 32-year-old becomes the first athlete in 22 years to claim a hat-trick of victories in the ultra marathon.

But the highlight of her achievement was that she became the first woman to break 3-and-a-half hour barrier in the race with a magnificent time of 3:29:42, obliterating Firth van der Merwe's previous course record of 3:30:36.

Steyn had been focusing on her marathon prowess over the past two years as Covid-19 limited ultra-marathon events, but she showed little signs of rust in galloping to the finishing line.

It’s official - our TRIPLE CROWN QUEEN IS HOME! What a smart race from our #TTOM2022 Queen, @gerdarun who made good on her promise to DEFEND HER TITLE AT ALL COST! Yaaaaaaassss, Queen! ???? pic.twitter.com/pAUlFq1jdi

"The record stays home. I'm really proud and humbled by that," she said afterwards.

"It was very tactical. I've been focusing on marathons over the past few years so I didn't always feel so strong, but it worked out."

Irvette van Zyl, who led for a chunk of the race, ensured a South African one-two by finishing in a time of 03:30:31, which ironically would've also beaten Van der Merwe's record.

Meanwhile, there was heartache in a thrilling men's race for Nkosikhona Mhlakwana, who agonisingly missed out on a maiden title in battle with Ethiopia's Edndale Belachew.

The man from Howick tried to build enough of a buffer in the last km to keep his opponent at bay, but Belachew's superior oomph with the finish line in sight was decisive.

He finished in a time of 3:09:05, just a mere three seconds ahead of