Gerda Steyn returned to the City of Roses for her first competitive race in Bloemfontein, delivering a powerful reminder to young athletes that extraordinary careers can grow from humble beginnings.
The celebrated ultra-distance runner may have built her reputation conquering the Comrades Marathon and Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, but Sunday’s inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K carried a personal significance that stretched beyond the stopwatch.
Steyn, a five-time Comrades champion and seven-time Two Oceans ultra-marathon winner, grew up in Bothaville and studied at the University of the Free State. Racing competitively in the city of her birth brought her journey full circle.
“If I think back to the years I lived here in Bloemfontein, nobody would have imagined that Gerda would become a professional athlete, win the Comrades or become an Olympic athlete,” she said.
“Never think it cannot be you. You can achieve something if you work hard for it and believe in your dreams. You can accomplish great things if you are prepared to put in the hard work every day.”
Steyn finished sixth in the women’s race in 35:01, making her the second South African behind race winner Glenrose Xaba. Her message was a fitting centrepiece for an event that attracted 5,000 participants to the Free State capital.
Xaba, representing Boxer Athletics Club, delivered a breakthrough performance to win in 32:10, claiming her first Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series victory of the season. Kenya’s Jackline Rotich finished second in 32:15, with Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala third in 32:19 after winning the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10K the previous week.
“I’m very excited to win Absa. I’m glad that I’m able to be the one crossing the line,” Xaba said.
The route demanded tactical discipline, with a challenging climb around the seven-kilometre mark testing the runners’ resolve.
Xaba had inspected the course the previous day and knew what awaited her. She said the challenge also offered an opportunity to demonstrate the mental strength required to compete at the highest level.
She also highlighted the importance of bringing elite athletes closer to young fans, allowing aspiring runners to meet their role models and imagine themselves on the starting line one day.
In the men’s race, Kenya’s Felix Masai Kibet, winner of this year’s Two Oceans Half-Marathon, controlled proceedings to take victory in 28:14.
“I enjoy racing in South Africa, just like Two Oceans Half-Marathon earlier this year. It went well again today,” he said. “I felt good. There was no competition from start to finish. The course was quite fast, with a hill with two kilometres to go.”
South Africa’s Kabelo Mulaudzi finished second in 28:43, followed by teammate Zenzile Pheko in 28:54.
The inaugural Mangaung race brought the six-event series to Bloemfontein, where thousands of runners helped turn the streets into a celebration of road running. Across the series, about 60,000 participants took part in the events held in Gqeberha, Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, with the Cape Town race cancelled because of adverse weather.
For Steyn, the day’s most enduring finish may have been the message she left behind: champions begin as dreamers, and the road to greatness starts with the courage to believe.
Featured Image: Adnaan Mohamed
