Gerda Steyn has cemented her place as the greatest Two Oceans Marathon runner of the modern era, storming to a record seventh title in the 56-kilometre ultramarathon around Cape Town's spectacular coastline on Saturday. The 36-year-old South African crossed the line in 3:27:43 — the second-fastest time of her Two Oceans career — pulling away from reigning Soweto Marathon champion Margaret Jepchumba after going through the marathon mark in an aggressive 2:34:34. In the men's race, Arthur Jantjies produced one of the day's great stories, winning on his ultramarathon debut in 3:09:25 after a lung-busting sprint finish that electrified the crowds along the Southern Suburbs route.
Steyn's dominance of the Two Oceans is now unmatched in the event's half-century history. She took control after the halfway point and never looked back, gradually pulling clear of Jepchumba on the undulating stretch through Constantia before opening a decisive gap on the climb towards the University of Cape Town. Jepchumba held on gamely for second in 3:33:31, while Nobukhosi Tshuma completed the podium in 3:38:34. Shelmith Muriuki (3:39:14) and Rholex Jelimo Kogo (3:40:39) rounded out the top five in a competitive women's field that boasted genuine depth for the first time in several editions.
The men's race produced drama right to the wire. Jantjies, a two-time Two Oceans half-marathon winner stepping up to the full distance for the first time, held his nerve in a three-way battle over the final kilometres to cross the line just 35 seconds ahead of Onalenna Khonkobe (3:10:00). Blessing Waison ran a strong tactical race to claim third in 3:11:13. Jantjies's victory was built on patience — he sat in the pack through the challenging Chapman's Peak section before unleashing a devastating surge on the Constantia climb that only Khonkobe could briefly answer.
This year's edition carried added significance after the organisational disruptions that marred the 2025 race, and the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon organisers will be relieved that the 2026 event delivered a clean, fast and incident-free day. Trust was the watchword in the build-up, with race director Debra Barnes emphasising the work done behind the scenes to restore confidence among athletes, sponsors and the running community. A record number of international entrants took to the start line, underlining the race's growing appeal beyond South Africa's borders as one of the world's most scenic road ultras.
The Two Oceans Marathon remains one of the jewels of the South African running calendar, and Steyn's record seventh victory places her alongside the legends of the sport. At 36, she shows no signs of slowing down, and her ability to run a sub-2:35 marathon split en route to a 56km finish time of 3:27 speaks to a level of fitness that would make her competitive at any major marathon on the planet. For Jantjies, meanwhile, a first ultramarathon victory at this level suggests a long future on the roads and trails — and perhaps a step up to the Comrades Marathon, where his combination of speed and endurance could prove formidable.