African Excitement Builds as 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Nears

As the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon builds towards gaining Abbott World Marathon Majors status excitement is growing for the 2024 edition, which takes place on Sunday, 20 October. With elite runners from across the African continent descending on the Mother City the 18^th edition is set to be fiercely contested. Though the action is by no way limited to the road marathon; as trail runners will get the festivities underway on Saturday morning, before the 5- and 10-kilometre Peace Run athletes take to the streets of Green Point. 

The City of Cape Town has been instrumental in the quest to fulfil the Abbott World Marathon Majors qualification criteria. This was confirmed by Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member of Safety and Security. “We are proud to be working alongside the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon towards the Abbott World Marathon Majors status,” Smith emphasised. “Events play a significant role in the economy of Cape Town, not only in terms of employment but also in the contribution through tourism to local businesses. In 2023 the city hosted 1 200 events, which contributed nearly R4 billion to the economy. It is for this reason that we focus so keenly on hosting safe and successful world-class events, and we will be working hard this weekend to ensure the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is a resounding success.” 

With the City’s support the task of the athletes is simple, to race their hearts out. Though the focus will undoubtedly be on the elite competitors, every runner or wheel chair athlete crossing the finish line is reminded that they are part of a greater, cohesive, community. “You count,” Clark Gardner, Chief Executive Officer of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, praised. “Entries were sold out again this year, as we grow the field through our Abbott World Marathon Majors candidacy. Just over 21 000 runners will start the marathon on Sunday; with 11 000 taking on the Peace Runs and 1 500 trail runners taking part on Saturday. It will be a remarkable festival of running, celebrating the beauty of our urban and natural environments, as well as the shared goal of elevating the sport on the African continent.” 

“The can be no doubt that the best marathon athletes hail from Africa,” Gardener continued. “But for too long they have had to ply their trade in Europe, North America, or Asia to earn the living their talent deserves. Now the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is seeking to change that. This year we have the strongest and deepest ever field for a marathon on African soil, along with the prize money to match. The men’s and women’s winners will each walk away with $25 000, with an additional $15 000 on the line should anyone break the course record. In total there is over 4 Million Rand in the prize purse for the weekend.” 

A man who is no stranger to breaking records headlines the elite men’s field. Dennis Kipruto Kimetto set the World Record in 2014 setting in motion the drive towards breaking the mythical 2 hour mark. His personal best – of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 57 seconds – sets the legendary Kenyan apart, despite the fact that he will face exceptionally stiff competition on Sunday. The Ethiopian defending champion, Adane Kebede Gebre, is joined by seven compatriots from the mountainous nation. Four Kenyans, including Kipruto Kimetto, and two Ugandans, as well as rising Moroccan star, Hicham Laqouahi, complete the continental challenge from beyond the Rainbow Nation’s borders. Melikhaya Frans is the top South African contender, though he will need to go well faster than his season’s best to challenge for victory. 

The stellar elite men’s line-up is augmented and could perhaps be overshadowed by the elite women’s field come Sunday. Hot off Ruth Chepngetich’s remarkable breaking of the Marathon World Record, in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, the elite women’s field is inspired to challenge the very breakable course record. In 2023 Tsige Haileslase came within 15 seconds of Meseret Dinke’s 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 2 second benchmark. The Ethiopian defending champion returns in 2024 and will be hoping for a less wind-affected edition this year. 

She is joined on the start line by compatriot Rio Olympics Bronze medallist Mare Dibaba Hursssa, who is very capable of dipping below the record mark. As are the Kenyana Joan Jepkemoi Kipyatich and Antonina Kwambai. Though the local focus will be on the talented pairing of Cian Oldknow and Glenrose Xaba. 

Oldknow is the more circumspect of the couple, and stated her goal as “wanting to run her best race possible.” When pushed for more details, at the elite athlete press conference Oldknow noted: “I know the women are going to go out hard, but I’m not sure if I’ll go out on the record pace. I usually speak to my coach the day before the race and we devise a race strategy, but my build up has been good and I’ve been running niggle free since Paris.” 

Xaba on the other hand was happy to provide her plan to the media. “I think it will be better to go with the front group, because bridging across later will take a lot of energy,” the South African 5 000 and 10 000 metre champion acknowledged. “I’ll have to be brave and focused. But that said I’m looking forward to a good run. This is my marathon debut and I’m excited to be making it in South Africa at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.” 

20 of the world’s best wheelchair athletes will be first off the start line on Sunday morning. South African wheelchair racing legend, Ernst Van Dyk, has worked with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon team to ensure a world-class field as well as a $36 000 prize purse for the Wheelchair Invitational. Defending champion, Geert Schipper returns to better the 1 hour 32 minutes and 9 second mark he set last year, though he will also have to see off Sho Watanabe, Patrick Monahan, and Hiroki Nishida, amongst others. In with women’s wheelchair race Mauritian Noemi Alphonse has the fastest personal best, the technicality of the course could better suit Merle Menje. The 20-year-old German recently took part in her second Paralympic Games and could have the edge over Alphonse who also holds the 100 metre world title in the T54 division. Experienced American, Michelle Wheeler, is another wheelchair athlete to watch. 

The running action gets underway at 06:00 on Saturday, 19 October, with the trail runs. On Sunday the Wheelchair Invitational starts proceedings at 06:10 with the elite men and women setting out at 06:15. The race will be broadcast live, on SuperSport – channel 209 – from 05:50.