Kipchoge upstaged as Esa smashes African marathon record in Cape Town
Cape Town Marathon
Mohamed Esa produced the fastest marathon ever run on African soil in Sunday's Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, with a blistering winning time of 2:04:55.
Image: Ayande Ndamane Independent Media
Mohamed Esa ensured the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will be remembered for far more than Eliud Kipchoge’s much-anticipated continental marathon debut after the Ethiopian produced the fastest marathon ever run on African soil on Sunday.
While much of the build-up centred on Kipchoge’s first competitive marathon appearance in Africa, it was fellow East African Esa who stole the show in the Mother City with a blistering winning time of 2:04:55.
The Ethiopian shattered the previous course record of 2:08:16, set by compatriot Abdisa Tola in 2024, and eclipsed the previous fastest time recorded on African soil – Morocco’s Hicham Laqouahi’s 2:06:32 in 2020. Esa broke clear in the closing stages after a thrilling battle at the front and surged away over the final three kilometres before pulling further clear in the last kilometre.
Compatriot Yihunilign Adane crossed just four seconds later in 2:04:59, while Kenya’s Kalipus Lomwai completed the podium in 2:05:06 as the elite men’s race delivered unprecedented depth. Remarkably, the first 10 runners all finished inside the previous course record in what organisers described as the strongest marathon field ever assembled in Africa.
Dera Dida Yami led a clean sweep of the podium positions by Ethiopian women, clocking 2:23:18 to secure victory, just under a minute outside Glenrose Xaba’s course record of 2:22:22.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media
Kipchoge, regarded by many as the greatest marathon runner of all time, ultimately faded out of contention and finished 16th in 2:13:29.
The first South African home was former three-time champion Stephen Mokoka, whose 2:10:48 earned him 13th place. Matlakala Bennet Seloyi followed in a personal best 2:12:17, while debutant Anthony Timoteus impressed with 2:13:04 in his first marathon.
The women’s race also belonged to Ethiopia, with Dera Dida Yami leading a clean sweep of the podium positions. Yami clocked 2:23:18 to secure victory, finishing just under a minute outside Glenrose Xaba’s course record of 2:22:22 set last year.
Mestawut Fikir took second in 2:23:46 and Waganesh Amare completed the Ethiopian domination in 2:23:57.
There was more history in the wheelchair races as Britain’s David Weir and Switzerland’s Manuela Schär both shattered course records in their respective divisions. The performances capped a landmark day for a race edging closer to becoming an Abbott World Marathon Majors event.