List of winners of the Comrades Marathon

The Comrades Marathon results show over a century of competitive endurance running. Bill Rowan won the first race in 1921 in 8:59:00, and Arthur Newton dominated the 1920s with five wins.[1] Wally Hayward and Bruce Fordyce became major figures, with Hayward winning five times across the 1930s to 1950s,[2] and Fordyce winning nine times in the 1980s.[3] The women’s race, officially recognised from 1975, saw standout performances like Frith van der Merwe’s 5:54:43 in 1989, a record that stood for decades.[4] In the 2000s, Russian athletes Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva were dominant, winning most of the women's races between 2003 and 2015.[5]

From 2014 onwards, South African athletes began winning more consistently. Bongmusa Mthembu won three titles,[6] and David Gatebe set the men’s down run record of 5:18:19 in 2016.[7] Gerda Steyn has become the leading figure in the women’s field, breaking the down run record in 2023 (5:44:54) and the up run record in 2024 (5:49:46).[8][9] On the men’s side, Tete Dijana broke the down run record on his way to his second victory in 2023,[8] while Dutch runner Piet Wiersma won in 2024 and finished second in 2023.[10] Since the end of COVID-related cancellations in 2020 and 2021, the race has returned with faster times and stronger fields, both local and international.

To date, Bruce Fordyce holds the record for the most men's victories with nine wins, while Elena Nurgalieva leads the women's field with eight wins.

Race Winners

Key:   Current course record

Past Comrades winners
Year u/d Time (Men) Men's Champion Club Time (Women) Women's Champion Club Notes
2025 d 5:25:28 Tete Dijana3 Nedbank RC 5:51.19 Gerda Steyn4 Hollywood Bets RC
2024 u 5:25:00 Piet Wiersma Nedbank RC 5:49.46 Gerda Steyn3 Phantane AC [11]
2023 d 5:13:58 Tete Dijana2 Nedbank RC 5:44.54 Gerda Steyn2 Phantane AC [12]
2022 d 5:30:38 Tete Dijana Nedbank RC GN 6:17:48 Alexandra Morozova International [13]
— cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic [14][15][16]
2019 u 5:31:33 Edward Mothibi Nedbank RC GN 5:58:53 Gerda Steyn Nedbank RC JHB
2018 d 5:26:34 Bongmusa Mthembu3 Arthur Ford AC 6:10:03 Ann Ashworth Massmart AC CG
2017 u 5:35:34 Bongmusa Mthembu2 Arthur Ford AC 6:27:35 Camille Herron Nedbank RC International
2016 d 5:18:19 David Gatebe TomTom AC 6:25:55 Charné Bosman Nedbank RC CG
2015 u 5:38:36 Gift Kelehe Samancor Chrome MC 6:12:22 Caroline Wöstmann Nedbank RC
2014 d 5:28:29 Bongmusa Mthembu Nedbank RC KZN 6:18:12 Eleanor Greenwood Nedbank International
2013 u 5:32:09 Claude Moshiywa Nedbank RC GN 6:27:09 Elena Nurgalieva8 Maxed Elite International
2012 d 5:31:03 Ludwick Mamabolo Maxed Elite KZN 6:07:12 Elena Nurgalieva7 Maxed Elite International
2011 u 5:32:45 Stephen Muzhingi3 Formula 1 Bluff Meats AC 6:24:11 Elena Nurgalieva6 Maxed Elite International
2010 d 5:29:01 Stephen Muzhingi2 Formula 1 Bluff Meats AC 6:13:03 Elena Nurgalieva5 Maxed Elite International
2009 d 5:23:27 Stephen Muzhingi Formula 1 Bluff Meats AC 6:12:08 Olesya Nurgalieva2 Maxed Elite International
2008 u 5:24:49 Leonid Shvetsov2 Harmony International 6:14:38 Elena Nurgalieva4 Maxed Elite International
2007 d 5:20:49 Leonid Shvetsov Harmony International 6:10:11 Olesya Nurgalieva Harmony International
2006 u 5:35:19 Oleg Kharitonov Harmony International 6:09:24 Elena Nurgalieva3 Russia
2005 d 5:27:10 Sipho Ngomane Harmony AC MPL 5:58:50 Tatyana Zhirkova Russia
2004 u 5:31:22 Vladimir Kotov3 Maxed Elite PE 6:11:15 Elena Nurgalieva2 Premier AC
2003 d 5:28:52 Fusi Nhlapo Liberty Nike AC CG 6:07:46 Elena Nurgalieva Russia
2002 u 5:30:59 Vladimir Kotov2 Maxed Elite International 6:14:21 Maria Bak3 Germany
2001 d 5:25:51 Andrew Kelehe Rentmeester Fattis & Monis GN 6:13:53 Elvira Kolpakova Russia
2000 u 5:25:33 Vladimir Kotov Maxed Elite International 6:15:35 Maria Bak2 Germany
1999 d 5:30:10 Jaroslaw Janicki Maxed Elite International 6:31:03 Birgit Lennartz Germany
1998 u 5:26:25 Dmitri Grishin2 Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 6:38:57 Rae Bisschoff Rocky Road Runners
1997 d 5:28:37 Charl Mattheus Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 5:58:24 Ann Trason2 USA
1996 u 5:29:33 Dmitri Grishin Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 6:13:23 Ann Trason USA
1995 d 5:34:02 Shaun Meiklejohn Maxed Elite KZN 6:22:57 Maria Bak Germany
1994 u 5:38:39 Alberto Salazar USA 6:41:23 Valentina Lyakhova Comrades International
1993 d 5:39:41 Charly Doll Germany 6:55:07 Tilda Tearle Savages AC
1992 u 5:46:11 Jetman Msutu[note 1] unknown 6:51:05 Frances van Blerk Magnolia Road Runners
1991 d 5:40:53 Nick Bester Magnolia Road Runners 6:08:19 Frith van der Merwe3 Benoni Northerns AC
1990 u 5:40:25 Bruce Fordyce9 Rand AC 7:02:00 Naidene Harrison Ladysmith AC
1989 d 5:35:51 Samuel Tshabalala Spectrum Athletic Club 5:54:43 Frith van der Merwe2 Benoni Northerns AC
1988 u 5:27:42 Bruce Fordyce8 Rand AC 6:32:56 Frith van der Merwe Benoni Northerns AC
1987 u 5:37:01 Bruce Fordyce7 Rand AC 6:48:42 / Helen Lucre3 Hillcrest Villagers AC
1986 d 5:24:07 Bruce Fordyce6 Rand AC 6:55:01 / Helen Lucre2 Hillcrest Villagers AC
1985 u 5:37:01 Bruce Fordyce5 University of Witwatersrand 6:53:24 / Helen Lucre Hillcrest Villagers AC
1984 d 5:27:18 Bruce Fordyce4 University of Witwatersrand 6:46:35 Lindsay Weight2 University of Cape Town AC
1983 u 5:30:12 Bruce Fordyce3 University of Witwatersrand 7:12:56 Lindsay Weight University of Cape Town AC
1982 d 5:34:22 Bruce Fordyce2 University of Witwatersrand 7:04:59 Cheryl Winn Pirates Road Running
1981 u 5:37:28 Bruce Fordyce University of Witwatersrand 6:44:35 Isavel Roche-Kelly2 University of Cape Town AC
1980 d 5:38:25 Alan Robb4 Germiston Callies Harriers 7:18:00 Isavel Roche-Kelly University of Cape Town AC
1979 u 5:45:02 Piet Vorster Collegians Harriers 8:22:41 Jan Mallen unknown
1978 d 5:29:14 Alan Robb3 Germiston Callies Harriers 8:25: Lettie van Zyl3 Germiston Callies Harriers
1977 u 5:47:00 Alan Robb2 Germiston Callies Harriers 8:58: Lettie van Zyl2 Germiston Callies Harriers
1976 d 5:40:53 Alan Robb Germiston Callies Harriers 9:05: Lettie van Zyl Germiston Callies Harriers
1975 u 5:53:00 Derek Preiss2 Westville AC 10:08: Elizabeth Cavanagh2 Estcourt AC
1974 u 6:02:49 Derek Preiss Westville AC 10:40: Alet Kleynhans Johannesburg Harriers AC
1973 d 5:39:09 Dave Levick University of Cape Town AC 8:40: Maureen Holland4 unknown
1972 u 5:48:57 Mick Orton Tipton Harriers 9:26: Maureen Holland3 unknown
1971 d 5:47:06 Dave Bagshaw3 Savages AC 8:37: Maureen Holland2 unknown
1970 u 5:51:27 Dave Bagshaw2 Savages AC 10:50: Elizabeth Cavanagh Estcourt AC
1969 d 5:45:35 Dave Bagshaw Savages AC
1968 u 6:01:11 Jack Mekler5 Germiston Callies Harriers
1967 d 5:54:10 Manie Kuhn Savages AC
1966 u 6:14:07 Tommy Malone Germiston Callies Harriers[17]: 23  9:30:00 Maureen Holland unknown
1965 d 5:51:09 Bernard Gomersall unknown 10:07: Mavis Hutchinson Germiston Callies Harriers
1964 u 6:09:54 Jack Mekler4 Germiston Callies Harriers
1963 d 5:51:20 Jack Mekler3 Germiston Callies Harriers
1962 u 5:57:05 John Smith unknown
1961 d 6:07:07 George Claassen Germiston Callies Harriers
1960 u 5:56:32 Jack Mekler2 Germiston Callies Harriers
1959 d 6:28:11 Trevor Allen2 Durban AC
1958 u 6:26:26 Jack Mekler Germiston Callies Harriers
1957 d 6:13:55 Mercer Davies Germiston Callies Harriers
1956 u 6:33:35 Gerald Walsh2 Durban AC
1955 d 6:06:32 Gerald Walsh Durban AC
1954 u 6:12:55 Wally Hayward5 Germiston Callies Harriers
1953 d 5:52:30 Wally Hayward4 Germiston Callies Harriers
1952 u 7:00:02 Trevor Allen Durban AC
1951 d 6:14:08 Wally Hayward3 Germiston Callies Harriers
1950 u 6:46:25 Wally Hayward2 Germiston Callies Harriers
1949 d 6:23:21 Reg Allison unknown
1948 u 7:13:52 William Savage2 Durban AC
1947 d 6:41:05 Hardy Ballington5 unknown
1946 u 7:02:40 Bill Cochrane2 unknown
— not held from 1941 to 1945 due to World War II
1940 u 6:39:23 Allen Boyce Durban AC
1939 d 6:22:05 Johnny Coleman2 unknown
1938 u 6:32:26 Hardy Ballington4 unknown
1937 d 6:23:11 Johnny Coleman unknown
1936 u 6:46:14 Hardy Ballington3 unknown
1935 d 6:30:05 Bill Cochrane unknown
1934 u 7:09:03 Hardy Ballington2 unknown
1933 d 6:50:37 Hardy Ballington unknown 9:31:25 Geraldine Watson3 unknown
1932 u 7:41:58 William Savage Germiston Callies Harriers 11:56:00 Geraldine Watson2 unknown
1931 d 7:16:30 Phil Masterton-Smith Natal Carbineers AC 11 hrs + Geraldine Watson unknown
1930 u 7:27:26 Wally Hayward Germiston Callies Harriers
1929 d 7:52:00 Darrell Dale unknown
1928 u 7:49:07 Frank Sutton unknown
1927 d 6:40:56 Arthur Newton5 unknown
1926 u 6:57:46 Harry Phillips unknown
1925 d 6:24:45 Arthur Newton4 unknown
1924 u 6:58:22 Arthur Newton3 unknown
1923 d 6:56:00 Arthur Newton2 unknown 11:35:00 Frances Hayward unknown
1922 u 8:40:00 Arthur Newton unknown
1921 d 8:59:00 Bill Rowan unknown
  1. ^ The 1992 race was won by Charl Mattheus, who was later disqualified, testing positive for a banned stimulant found in cough syrup. Shortly thereafter the particular stimulant was removed from the list of banned substances, but Mattheus was never reinstated as winner.

Multiple winners

'+' denotes winner of both an up and a down run

Men's champion Wins Club Women's champion Wins Club
Bruce Fordyce + 9 Wits AC, Rand AC Elena Nurgalieva + 8
/ Arthur Newton + 5 Maureen Holland + 4
Hardy Ballington + 5 Gerda Steyn + 4 Nedbank RC
Wally Hayward + 5 Germiston Callies Harriers Lettie van Zyl + 3 Germiston Callies Harriers
Jackie Mekler + 5 Germiston Callies Harriers / Helen Lucre + 3 Hillcrest Villagers AC
Alan Robb + 4 Germiston Callies Harriers Frith van der Merwe + 3 Benoni Northerns AC
Dave Bagshaw + 3 Savages AC Maria Bak + 3 Germany
Stephen Muzhingi + 3 Isavel Roche-Kelly + 2 UCT AC
/ Vladimir Kotov 3 Elizabeth Cavanagh 2 Estcourt AC
Bongmusa Mthembu + 3 Olesya Nurgalieva 2
Tete Dijana 3 Nedbank RC Ann Trason + 2 USA
Johnny Coleman 2 Lindsay Weight + 2 UCT AC
Bill Cochrane + 2
Gerald Walsh + 2 Durban AC
Trevor Allen + 2 Durban AC
Derek Preiss 2 Westville AC
Dmitri Grishin 2
Leonid Shvetsov + 2

First South Africans

As the race has grown in profile globally, and since the end of sporting isolation, international runners have come to dominate the race for periods of time. As a result, the first South African home each year is also now awarded a separate prize.

The following have had the distinction of being the first male and female South African across the finish line (overall finishing position in brackets), in years where the winner was an international runner:

First South African Finishers in International Winner Years
Year Athlete (Men) Event Club Overall Position Athlete (Women) Event Club Overall Position
2024 Dan Moselakwe Men's Nedbank Running Club 2nd
2022 Adele Broodryk Women's Murray & Roberts AC NW 3rd
2017 Charné Bosman Women's Nedbank Running Club GN 2nd
2014 Caroline Wostmann Women's Nedbank Running Club GN 6th
2013 Charné Bosman Women's Bonitas AC CG 5th
2012 Kerry Koen Women's Bonitas AC CG 4th
2011 Fanie Matshipa Men's Samcor Marathon Club PE 2nd Farwa Mentoor Women's Bonitas AC CG 5th
2010 Ludwick Mamabolo Men's Maxed Elite CGA 2nd Farwa Mentoor Women's Bonitas AC CG 5th
2009 Charles Tjiane Men's Maxed Elite CGA 3rd Farwa Mentoor Women's Bonitas AC CG 5th
2008 Harmans Mokgadi Men's Nedbank Running Club GN 6th Riana van Niekerk Women's Maxed Elite CGA 6th
2007 Mncedisi Mkhize Men's Maxed Elite CGA 3rd Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 4th
2006 Brian Zondi Men's Harmony AC CG 2nd Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 6th
2005 Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 4th
2004 Willie Mtolo Men's Harmony AC CG 4th Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 3rd
2003 Farwa Mentoor Women's Harmony AC GN 8th
2002 Willie Mtolo Men's Harmony AC CG 2nd Farwa Mentoor Women's Adidas AC 4th
2001 Deborah Mattheus Women's Harmony AC GW 2nd
2000 Donovan Wright Men's Maxed Elite PE 4th Grace de Oliveira Women's Maxed Elite KZN 3rd
1999 Andrew Kelehe Men's Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 2nd Grace de Oliveira Women's Maxed Elite KZN 2nd
1998 Charl Mattheus Men's Rentmeester Fattis & Monis WP 2nd
1997 Charlotte Noble Women's club unknown 5th
1996 Nick Bester Men's Tuks Road Runners Club 2nd Jowaine Parrott Women's Tygervalley Bellville AC 4th
1995 Helene Joubert Women's Agape AC GN 2nd
1994 Nick Bester Men's Tuks Road Runners Club 2nd Sanet Beukes Women's Westville AC 4th
1993 Theo Rafiri Men's club unknown 2nd
1972 Dave Bagshaw Men's Savages AC 2nd
1965 Jackie Mekler Men's Germiston Callies Harriers 2nd
1962 Jackie Mekler Men's Germiston Callies Harriers 2nd

See also

References

  1. ^ Crockett, Davy (8 June 2021). "Comrades Marathon – 100 years old". Ultrarunning History. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  2. ^ Milroy, Andy (2021-07-29). "84: Wally Hayward (1908-2006) – South African Legend". Ultrarunning History. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  3. ^ Hemmonsbey, Keanan (2023-06-08). "Running the Comrades is 'a great gift that you give yourself' – nine-time winner Bruce Fordyce". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  4. ^ Etheridge, Mark (2022-08-25). "Frith's marathon record for the ages". Business Day. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  5. ^ Kok, Marizanne (2018-05-13). "Russian twins banned from Comrades". News24. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  6. ^ Mothowagae, Daniel (2018-06-10). "Bongmusa Mthembu wins a third Comrades Marathon title on Sunday". Sowetan. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  7. ^ Sherman, Michael (2016-05-29). "Gatebe smashes Comrades record". IOL. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  8. ^ a b Mamabolo, Matshelane (2023-06-11). "Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn smash long-standing Comrades Marathon records". IOL. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  9. ^ Hemmonsbey, Keenan (2024-06-09). "'It is the best day of my life' — Gerda Steyn after breaking another Comrades Marathon record". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  10. ^ "Flying Dutchman Piet Wiersma wins Comrades Marathon". Business Day. 2024-06-09. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  11. ^ Turner, Jonathan (2024-06-09). "Comrades Marathon 2024 results: Gerda Steyn takes third title and SMASHES record as Piet Wiersma wins tight battle". RUN247. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  12. ^ Hemmonsbey, Keanan (2023-06-11). "SPEEDY FINISHES: Records tumble as South Africa's Dijana and Steyn conquer the Comrades Marathon". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  13. ^ "LIVE | SA's Dijana produces tactical masterclass to win 2022 Comrades…". Retrieved 28 August 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ "The 2020 Comrades Marathon Has Been Cancelled". comrades.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  15. ^ "2021 Centenary Comrades Marathon Cancelled".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. ^ "Comrades Marathon cancelled for second year | Witness".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ^ Sowetan Reporter (26 April 2019). "True Comrades ambassador". The Sowetan. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
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