Hollywood Athletics Club Women Ready to Paint Comrades Purple

Hollywood Athletics Club will once again boast one of the strongest women’s teams on the start line when the 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon gets underway on Sunday, with a formidable Elite Team led by four-time champion Gerda Steyn.

The iconic 85.77km Up Run will start in Durban at 05:00 on Sunday morning and finish at Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg, where 22 000 runners are expected to line the route as the World’s most premier ultra-marathon celebrates another historic chapter.

Leading the Hollywood Athletics Club charge is Steyn, who enters the race as the overwhelming favourite to claim an unprecedented fifth consecutive Comrades Marathon title. The South African ultra-distance superstar has dominated the race in recent years and arrives in KwaZulu-Natal in exceptional form as she looks to further cement her legacy as one of the greatest female runners in Comrades history.

Adding even more excitement to Sunday’s race is the possibility of a new Up Run course record. Given Steyn’s consistency, pacing ability and remarkable strength over the ultra-marathon distance, many believe the Hollywood Athletics Club ace could challenge the record should race-day conditions prove favourable, after setting new course records in all 4 of her victories to date.

Steyn finished up her Comrades training camp in Dullstroom this week, alongside Comrades winners and Hollywood Teammates Edward Mothibi and Tete Dijane. “It was so amazing to end off a successful training block together with Tete and the guys who are now also Hollywood Teammates and we are all looking forward to a great day on Sunday,” said Steyn. “Theres a reason they are nicknamed the happy bunch and they are such a great group of guys.”

Steyn will be joined by an outstanding Hollywood Athletics Club Women’s Elite Team that combines international experience, proven marathon pedigree and ultra-distance expertise.

The team includes:

• Gerda Steyn
• Irvette van Zyl
• Carla Molinaro
• Courtney Olsen
• Melissa Jansen van Vuuren
• Annerie Wooding
• Steph McCaul

Former Olympian and multiple South African marathon champion Irvette van Zyl adds significant strength to the squad going for her back-to-back Comrades Marathon after a dominant victory at the Loskop 50km, while British ultra-distance specialist Carla Molinaro brings extensive Comrades experience to the Team. Courtney Olsen, Melissa Jansen van Vuuren, Annerie Wooding and Steph McCaul complete a talented line-up capable of making an impact throughout the women’s race. Olsen finished 3^rd in the last Comrades Marathon up run and will be looking for a similar performance after a great Two Oceans in April.

Hollywood Athletics Club Elite Team Manager Manfred Seidler believes the squad is ready to rise to the occasion on one of the biggest stages in world road running.

“We have assembled an exceptionally strong women’s Team for this year’s Comrades Marathon. Gerda has prepared incredibly well and goes into the race as the favourite, while the depth throughout our squad gives us every reason to be excited. Every athlete has put in the work, preparations have gone according to plan, and we are looking forward to seeing our Purple colours at the front of the race from Durban all the way to (Hollywoodbets) Scottsville,” said Seidler.

With a fifth straight title potentially awaiting Steyn and the prospect of a course record adding further intrigue, Hollywood Athletics Club’s Elite women will be determined to paint the roads of KwaZulu-Natal Purple as they chase glory in the 99th running of the Ultimate Human Race.