The Star E-dition

Steyn can’t wait for ‘loaded’ NY Marathon

ASHFAK MOHAMED ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za

A “LOADED field” filled with Olympic and world championship medallists will fuel Gerda Steyn’s bid for the New York Marathon title in November.

The 32-year-old South African record holder announced on social media this week that she will contest the famous event in the Big Apple on November 6.

That means that she won’t defend her title at the Comrades Marathon in Durban, which takes place on August 28, having won the last edition in 2019.

“Race Announcement !!! You’ve guessed it.. or maybe you didn’t!!? Here it is anyway.. 6 November 2022: NEW YORK MARATHON!!! Beyond excited to share with you that I’ll be packing my big girl shoes to toe the line at @nycmarathon 2022!!” Steyn posted on Facebook.

“A loaded women’s field as expected once again to add to the excitement and thrill (as if I needed any more!)

“It goes without saying that I won’t be running the Comrades down run this year, and believe me, I feel the FOMO, but the spirit of Comrades is that it’s never about the individual, so therefore I am excited to watch and cheer my lungs out for everyone on race day!!

“In the meantime, I am working HARD so that I can bring my very best, and make you proud in the city of dreams. See you soon, NYC!!

“Follow me as I prepare for the biggest and best marathon in the world!!! #bigappleenergy #smallfishbigapple #tcsnycmarathon2022 #itwillmoveyou”

Steyn has been preparing for the big race since winning the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town in April.

She took part in the Great Manchester Run 10km event in

May, when she finished 10th in 33 minutes and 42 seconds, with Kenya’s 5 000m Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Hellen Obiri winning in 30:15.

Steyn then made her way to Durban for a 10km race in July, when she again ended 10th in a slightly slower 33:53. Another Kenyan, Jesca Chelangat, set a new SA all-comers record of 30:41.

Steyn has spent the last few weeks in the French Alps at an elevation of over 4 800m, getting in her high altitude training in preparation for New York.

That will come in handy when she comes up against some of the leading marathoners in the world.

Heading that list is Tokyo Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, who has the quickest personal best in the field of 2:17.16.

Steyn finished 15th in 2:32.10 – well short of her SA record of 2:25.28 – in hot and humid conditions at the Tokyo Olympics marathon, and will hope to go even better in New York in three months’ time.

SPORT

en-za

2022-08-12T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-12T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestar.pressreader.com/article/282273849142608

African News Agency