Three of the four course records in the Cape Town Marathon were shattered on a spectacular day of racing – in equally spectacular weather – as the fastest field ever assembled for an African marathon brought world class racing to the Mother City on Sunday.
The elite men’s race was won by Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa in a scintillating 2:04:55, shattering the course record of 2:08:16, set by another Ethiopian Abdisa Tola in 2024.
He was followed over the line by countryman Yihunilign Adane in 2:04:59, with Kenyan Kalipus Lomwai third in 2:05:06.
The men’s race saw the first 10 runners all finish under the previous course record.
Made his form count
Esa came into the race with the fastest season-time, having run 2:04:49 in the 2025 Chicago Marathon, and he made that form count as he surged in the final three kilometres to break up the leading pack of four.
He then surged again in the final kilometre to cement the win.
His 2:04:55 is the fastest marathon ever run on African soil, beating the 2:06:32 run by Hicham Laqouahi of Morocco in his own country in 2020, and the Ethiopian’s time also becomes the new South African All-comers Record.
The first South African home was former three-time winner of the race, Stephen Mokoka (2:10:48 for 13th place), and he was followed home by Matlakala Bennet Seloyi with a personal best 2:12:17, and debutant Anthony Timoteus, posting a solid 2:13:04 in his first attempt at the distance.
The man considered by many to be the greatest marathoner of all time, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, was 16th home in 2:13:29.
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 South African’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.
Did you compete in any of the Cape Town Marathon events this weekend?
Let us know by clicking on the comments banner below …
