By Johnathan Paoli
South Africa’s Tete Dijana secured his place in history with a triumphant third ‘down run’ victory at the Comrades Marathon, while Gerda Steyn marked her remarkable fourth win in the women’s title.
The duo solidified their legendary status on Sunday, crossing the finish line outside Moses Mabhida Stadium’s People’s Park amid thunderous applause from thousands of spectators.
Dijana, 37, delivered a masterclass performance, adding to his previous triumphs in 2022 and 2023, while Steyn further cemented her dominance in one of the world’s toughest ultra-marathons.
Dijana, the Nedbank Running Club star, fended off a fierce challenge from Dutch defending champion Piet Wiersma in a thrilling sprint finish, clocking an unofficial time of 5 hours, 25 minutes, and 27 seconds—just seven seconds ahead of his rival.
“I knew Piet would come strong in the last stretch, but I stuck to my plan. I love the Down Run, it
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