The streets of Cape Town became a high-speed runway on Sunday as Sanlam Cape Town Marathon produced the fastest marathon ever run on African soil where three course records were shattered in a breathtaking exhibition of distance running.
With crystal-clear skies and cool coastal air acting like a tailwind for greatness, the strongest elite field ever assembled on the continent turned the Mother City into a theatre of relentless pace and historic ambition.
Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa stormed to victory in the men’s race in a staggering 2:04:55, slicing more than three minutes off the previous course record of 2:08:16 set by fellow Ethiopian Abdisa Tola in 2024.
Esa’s performance was more than a race victory. It became a continental landmark.
The performance also strengthened Cape Town’s growing bid to become Africa’s Abbott World Major, placing it alongside iconic marathons in London, New York, Berlin and Tokyo.
One of the key requirements for Major status is a world-class elite and wheelchair field. The 2026 edition delivered exactly that and the athletes responded by rewriting the record books.
Esa’s time eclipsed the previous fastest marathon run on African soil, the 2:06:32 recorded by Morocco’s Hicham Laqouahi in 2020, while also establishing a new South African All-Comers Record.
The Ethiopian arrived in Cape Town carrying the sharp edge of world-class form after clocking 2:04:49 in 2025 . When the race reached its decisive final kilometres, he accelerated like a runner escaping gravity itself, breaking apart a leading pack of four before delivering a final surge in the closing kilometre.
The Ethiopian later waited at the finish line to welcome fellow runners home, including marathon great Eliud Kipchoge, who finished 16th in 2:13:29.
“Eliud is my role model, and I love and respect him so much,” Esa said.
“I wanted to show the world that we are the same family of African runners.”
Countryman Yihunilign Adane crossed second in 2:04:59, while Kenya’s Kalipus Lomwai completed the podium in 2:05:06.
The depth of the field was equally astonishing. The first 10 men all finished faster than the previous course record, producing a stampede of elite times rarely witnessed anywhere in the world.
South African veteran Stephen Mokoka was the first local athlete home in 13th place in 2:10:48. He was followed by Matlakala Bennet Seloyi, who produced a personal best 2:12:17, while marathon debutant Anthony Timoteus impressed with 2:13:04.
All eyes were also fixed on marathon icon Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as one of the greatest distance runners in history, who finished 16th in 2:13:29.
In the women’s race, Ethiopian athletes painted the podium in their national colours. Dera Dida Yami claimed victory in 2:23:18, narrowly missing the course record of 2:22:22 set by South Africa’s Glenrose Xaba in 2024.
“I came here to win the race and that was my goal,” Dida said.
“But I’ll be very happy to come back here and try to break the course record next year.”
She also revealed that Tamirat Tola already plans to race in Cape Town next year after missing this year’s event following his London Marathon campaign.
Mestawut Fikir finished second in 2:23:46, with Waganesh Amare third in 2:23:57.
Veteran Kenyan star Edna Kiplagat rolled back the years with fifth place in 2:25:44 at the age of 46.
South Africa’s leading woman was Mia Morrison in 2:49:52, ahead of Melissa Laing and Banele Mabizela.
The wheelchair races added another layer of history.
Great Britain’s David Weir powered to victory in 1:30:20, smashing the men’s wheelchair course record, while Switzerland’s Manuela Schär obliterated the women’s mark in 1:43:25 with a performance that left the field scattered like runners chasing shadows.
“The atmosphere was amazing with the crowd, and the weather was good as well,” said Weir.
“I didn’t plan to go for the record today, it was one of those things.”
“I’ve done all the Majors around the world, and this is definitely one of my favourites,” Schär said.
“The crowd was amazing, and then the view… you have the ocean and Table Mountain. It was beautiful.”
The marathon’s latest spectacle arrives at a pivotal moment as the event edges toward the final phase of its bid to become part of the prestigious Abbott World Majors series of race’s.
If Sunday proved anything, it is that Cape Town is no longer knocking on the door of global marathon greatness. It is sprinting through it.
FIND THE FULL SANLAM CAPE TOWN MARATHON RESULTS HERE:
