Comrades 2026: Kusche Breaks the Up Run Record in 5:16:06 as Steyn Lands a 5th Title
TL;DR — On Sunday, June 14, 2026, the 99th Comrades Marathon — the "Up Run," from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, around 85.8 km — produced two course records in a single day. In the men's race, South Africa's George Kusche won in 5:16:06, erasing a mark that had stood for 18 years. In the women's race, Gerda Steyn claimed a 5th title while breaking her own Up Run record in 5:44:53.
Comrades is the world's oldest and largest ultramarathon: almost every year since 1921, tens of thousands of runners have linked Durban and Pietermaritzburg in South Africa, with the direction flipping from one year to the next. In 2026 it was the "Up Run" — the harder version, climbing from sea level into the hills of KwaZulu-Natal. And this 50th Up Run in history will be remembered as a vintage one: two course records, hours apart.
George Kusche, the outsider who took it all
Nobody had pencilled in his name. George Kusche, 27, a self-coached data scientist based in Pretoria, was on no one's favourites list — most eyes were on defending champion Piet Wiersma, three-time winner Tete Dijana, and former champion Edward Mothibi.
For most of the day the race belonged to another man. Mbuti Mollo (Maxed Elite) led the way, building an advantage of roughly seven minutes by the 60 km mark. But the Up Run is decided in its final third. With 18.4 km to go, the gap had collapsed to 1:41. On the Little Pollys climb, Mollo's legs gave way and he began to walk. Kusche moved past him with just over 10 km left and ran solo to the finish at Scottsville Racecourse in 5:16:06 — eight minutes inside the Up Run record held since 2008 by Russia's Leonid Shvetsov (5:24:49), and on a course about 800 m longer than the one used back then. A measure of how fast the front ran: the top five all finished under the old record.
Wiersma and Mollo round out the podium
Dutch defending champion Piet Wiersma salvaged second in 5:19:45. Mollo, despite fading, hung on for bronze in 5:21:40. Nedbank Running Club, dominant in the men's race for years, again stacked the top 10.
Gerda Steyn, the undisputed queen of Comrades
In the women's race the suspense was brief. Gerda Steyn, 35, ran alongside Nobukhosi Tshuma for a while before pulling clear around the four-hour mark. She crossed the line in 5:44:53, breaking her own Up Run record and sealing a 5th title — her 4th in a row.
"I said before the race that I'm going to run as if it's my last race, and that's what I did," she told IOL Sports, before quickly adding that this run was nowhere near her last. Tshuma took second in 5:53:36, and Irvette van Zyl, on her first Up Run, completed the podium in 6:02:30.
Records — and serious paydays
Comrades layers bonus on bonus: the win, first South African home, the fastest-time bonus, the average-pace bonus. The result: Kusche walked away with more than R2 million (about $123,000), and Steyn with a record payday of at least R2.322 million (about $142,700).
Why the "Up Run" makes these times so impressive
The Up Run starts in Durban, on the Indian Ocean, and climbs roughly 750 m net to Pietermaritzburg, stringing together the course's five legendary hills. It is tougher than the "Down Run" held in even years — which is exactly why an Up Run record is so rare and so prized. For full background on the race, see our Comrades 2026 preview.
What about everyday runners?
For the vast majority of the 20,000-plus entrants, the goal isn't a record but something just as heroic: crossing the line before the 12-hour cutoff to earn a medal. That's the spirit of Comrades — elites and amateurs on the same road, on the same day. And if the ultra bug is biting, take a look at June's other big appointment, Western States 100.
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FAQ
Who won the 2026 Comrades Marathon?
George Kusche won the men's race in 5:16:06, a new Up Run record. Gerda Steyn won the women's race in 5:44:53, also breaking the Up Run record.
What is the Comrades Up Run record?
As of June 14, 2026, it's 5:16:06 for men (George Kusche) and 5:44:53 for women (Gerda Steyn). The previous men's mark had stood since 2008, set by Leonid Shvetsov in 5:24:49.
How long is the Comrades Marathon?
About 85.8 km for the 2026 Up Run (Durban → Pietermaritzburg). The distance varies slightly with the direction and the year's exact route.
How many Comrades titles does Gerda Steyn have?
Five wins, including the last four in a row.
How do you qualify for Comrades?
You need a qualifying time on a recognised race (usually a marathon) before the deadline, then you must finish Comrades within the 12-hour cutoff.
Is Comrades run uphill or downhill?
The direction alternates each year. 2026 was an "Up Run" (coast to inland); the following edition will be a "Down Run."