The Mother City turned on the charm for this morning’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, as 27 000 runners crossed the start line in near-perfect conditions that treated runners and spectators alike to crisp morning air, clear skies and barely a breath of wind along the route.

Against this spectacular backdrop, three of the event’s four course records were shattered as the fastest elite field ever assembled for an African marathon delivered world-class racing on the streets of Cape Town.

With the event entering the final phase of its candidacy to become an Abbott World Marathon Majors race, the performances in the Mother City underlined why the event is already regarded as Africa’s premier marathon.

…elite men’s race produced all the drama fans could have hoped for, with South African star Adrian Wildschutt setting a fearless pace…

The elite men’s race produced all the drama fans could have hoped for, with South African star Adrian Wildschutt setting a fearless pace that kept the field honest well beyond the 30km mark. His bold pacing strategy ignited the race and ensured a thrilling contest deep into the closing stages, adding even more excitement to an unforgettable day of racing, which had the other competitors wondering if he was going to finish the marathon and win it.

Ultimately, Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa stormed to victory in a scintillating 2:04:55, smashing the previous course record of 2:08:16 set by fellow Ethiopian Abdisa Tola in 2024. Esa’s time is now the fastest marathon ever run on African soil, eclipsing the previous continental mark of 2:06:32 set in Morocco in 2020, while also establishing a new South African all-comers record.

Esa arrived in Cape Town as the fastest athlete in the field after his 2:04:49 performance at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, and he proved his pedigree in emphatic fashion. Locked in a leading pack of four deep into the race, the Ethiopian made his decisive move over the final three kilometres before surging again in the closing stages to secure victory. Countryman Yihunilign Adane followed just four seconds later in 2:04:59, with Kenyan Kalipus Lomwai completing the podium in 2:05:06.

The depth of the elite field was equally remarkable. The first 10 men all finished faster than the previous course record, with the top 10 featuring two 2:04 performances, three 2:05s, three 2:06s and two 2:07s – an extraordinary standard that transformed Cape Town into the stage for one of the greatest marathon races ever seen on African soil.

South Africa’s top performers also delivered strong performances, led by former three-time champion Stephen Mokoka, who crossed the line in 2:10:48 for 13th place. He was followed by Matlakala Bennet Seloyi, who clocked a personal best 2:12:17, while debutant Anthony Timoteus impressed with a solid 2:13:04 in his first attempt at the distance.

Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge, widely considered one of the greatest marathoners of all time, finished 16th in 2:13:29. Kipchoge stole the show on route as Capetonians came out in their thousands to support him and to capture images of the legend running for the first time in Cape Town.

He chose the event as the opening race of his global tour. Prior to this, Kipchoge had never competed in a competitive, official full marathon on the African continent, making it a monumental milestone in his career.

ETHIOPIAN DOMINANCE IN WOMEN’S RACE
In the women’s race, Ethiopian runners made it a clean sweep of the podium positions, with Dera Dida Yami taking the win in 2:23:18, just under a minute outside the course record 2:22:22 set by SA’s Glenrose Xaba in the 2024 race. Second over the line was Mestawut Fikir in 2:23:46, with Waganesh Amare third in 2:23:57.

Former women’s World Champion, Kenyan 46-year-old Edna Kiplagat, finished fifth in 2:25:44, and the first South African home was 15th-placed Mia Morrison in 2:49:52, followed by Melissa Laing (16th in 2:50:11) and Banele Mabizela (18th in 2:51:15).

WHEELCHAIR RECORDS SHATTERED
David Weir of Great Britain dominated the men’s wheelchair race and took the win in 1:30:20, well inside the course record 1:32:09 set by Dutchman Gert Schipper in 2023. The Brit was followed in by Dutchman Jetze Plat (1:33:12), while third position went to the 2024 winner in Cape Town, Sho Watanabe of Japan, who was given the nod for the final podium position in a photo finish with Chinese athlete Zhang Ying. Both were given the same finishing time.

The women’s wheelchair record now belongs to Switzerland’s Manuela Schär. She absolutely dominated the race to win in 1:43:25, obliterating the previous course record of 1:52:58, set by Brit Eden Rainbow-Cooper in 2023. Second-placed Chen Xiaochun (China) also finished inside the previous record, crossing the line in 1:52:21, with another Chinese athlete, Deng Yirun, taking third in 1:57:05.

Full results here.

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