South Africa’s two women marathon athletes, who are both part of the Pretoria Nedbank Running Club, produced a mixed bag of results in the longest of the distance running events at the Tokyo Olympic Games this past weekend.

Gerda Steyn took 15th position in the marathon race in 2:32:10. It was the best result by a South African in an Olympic marathon race since Hendrick Ramaala finished 12th in the men’s event at the 2000 Sydney Games.

“I’m really happy with my 15th place today. I’ve never been so overwhelmed by support and well wishes, and I did it for everyone back in South Africa. I know these are difficult times, so I hope this brings a bit of hope and something to smile about,” Steyn said after the race.

Unfortunately, Pretoria’s other participant, Irvette van Zyl, was one of 15 athletes in the field of 88 runners who dropped out of the 42.2km race, which had been brought forward by an hour to try and combat the heat.

Lying more than three minutes off the pace, Van Zyl withdrew shortly after the halfway mark.

Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya won the race in 2:27:20, with compatriot Brigid Kosgei taking second place in 2:27:36, and American athlete Molly Seidel rounded off the podium in 2:27:46.

Brilliant run tactically – moved up from 25 to 15th in 2:32:10 – calm head great Performance only 1 minute behind 10th – great first Olympics pic.twitter.com/FIoJZNQAsv

— Norrie Williamson (@CoachNorrie1) August 7, 2021

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