Mohamed Esa of the DSM-Firmenich Running Team crossed the finish line this morning in 2:04:55 to claim victory at the Sanlam Cape Town marathon — setting a new course record and the fastest marathon time ever recorded on African soil.

The Ethiopian, competing just over a month after being forced to abandon his Boston Marathon attempt, passed halfway in 1:02:49 before making his decisive move at the 40km mark, surging clear of a four-man battle for the lead.

He held on to win his first-ever marathon, edging fellow Ethiopian Yihunilign Adane (2:04:59) by just four seconds, with Kenyan Kalipus Lomwai (2:05:06) completing the podium. The entire men’s podium was separated by a breathless 11 seconds.

“To win my first marathon here in Africa, on home ground, and in a course-record time makes this victory very special to me,” Esa said.

Women’s race

In the women’s race, Ethiopian Dera Dida claimed the title in 2:23:18 — a performance of grit and class from start to finish — ahead of compatriots Mestawut Fikir (2:23:46) and Waganesh Amare (2:23:57), making it an all-Ethiopian podium. The women’s course record of 2:22:22 remained intact, with Dida finishing 56 seconds shy of the mark. Just 39 seconds covered the entire women’s podium.

Conditions were ideal for fast running — overcast and mild — a world away from last year’s edition on 19 October 2025, which was cancelled due to gale-force winds. The Mother City more than made up for it today.

Running legend Eliud Kipchoge also took to the streets of Cape Town, completing the opening leg of his world tour — a quest to run seven marathons across seven continents over the next three years — and finishing 16th overall. It was also a notable first: his debut marathon on African soil.

“Cape Town, this was a special day,” Kipchoge said. “I’m proud to begin our world tour in Africa. It was the perfect start.”

The 2026 Sanlam Cape Town marathon — on its journey towards becoming Africa’s first world marathon major — delivered a near-perfect day of racing from start to finish.

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