By Adnaan Mohamed
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon delivered a landmark moment for African road running on Sunday as Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa produced the fastest marathon ever run on African soil in a record-shattering performance through the streets of the Mother City.
Esa stormed to victory in 2:04:55, obliterating the previous course record of 2:08:16 set by fellow Ethiopian Abdisa Tola in 2024.
His time also eclipsed the previous fastest marathon run on the continent, the 2:06:32 recorded by Morocco’s Hicham Laqouahi in 2020, while establishing a new South African All-Comers record.
The performance strengthened the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon growing bid to become Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Majors, 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 arrived in Cape Town with the quickest season-best in the field after clocking 2:04:49 in the 2025 Chicago Marathon, and delivered on that form with a decisive late surge.
He broke away from a leading pack of four inside the final three kilometres before pulling clear again in the closing stages.
The depth of the elite field underlined the quality of the race, with the first 10 runners all finishing quicker than the previous course record.
“To be honest, I was not thinking about the course record today, because my target was to win the race in my African homeland,” said Esa.
“So the win was the priority, and I was not targeting the course record, but I am really happy that I could do both today.”
Fellow Ethiopian Yihunilign Adane finished second in 2:04:59, while Kenya’s Kalipus Lomwai completed the podium in 2:05:06.
South African veteran Stephen Mokoka was the leading local athlete in 13th place in 2:10:48.
He was followed by Matlakala Bennet Seloyi, who clocked a personal best 2:12:17, while debutant Anthony Timoteus impressed with 2:13:04 in his first marathon.
Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge finished 16th in 2:13:29.
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.”
In the women’s race, Ethiopia completed a clean sweep of the podium positions.
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 crossed second in 2:23:46, with Waganesh Amare third in 2:23:57.
Former women’s world champion Edna Kiplagat finished fifth in 2:25:44 at the age of 46.
South Africa’s top finisher was Mia Morrison, who placed 15th in 2:49:52.
WHEELCHAIR RECORDS SHATTERED
The wheelchair races also produced two course records.
Great Britain’s David Weir won the men’s race in 1:30:20 to better the previous mark of 1:32:09 set in 2023.
“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.”
Switzerland’s Manuela Schär dominated the women’s race in 1:43:25, smashing the previous course record of 1:52:58.
“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 latest edition of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon comes at a crucial stage in the event’s bid to become part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series, strengthening its growing reputation as Africa’s leading marathon.
