Cape Town Marathon
LocationCape Town, South Africa
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Primary sponsorSanlam
Established2007; 17 years ago (2007)
Course recordsMen's: 2:08:31 (2018)
South Africa Stephen Mokoka
Women's: 2:25:44 (2021)
Kenya Lydia Simiyu
Official siteCape Town Marathon
Participants6,008 finishers (2021)
9,574 (2019)

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is a City Marathon (42.2 km) held in Cape Town, South Africa, first held in its current form in 2007. Available distances include the marathon, a 10K, a 5K, and two trail runs of length 22 km and 12 km. The marathon is held on a fast and flat course, starting and finishing in Green Point, near the Cape Town Stadium.

The Cape Town Marathon is also the host of the South African marathon championships. The marathon is categorized as a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics.[1]

History

First iteration

In 1994, the first iteration of the Cape Town Marathon was organised by Celtic Harriers running club. It started and finished in Pinelands.

In 1996, the Cape Town Marathon was won by Josia Thugwane, who went on to win the men's Olympic Marathon at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Second iteration

In 2005 and 2006, a separately organised marathon was also held in Cape Town.

Current era

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2023)

The first Cape Town Marathon (in its current format) was run in September 2007. From 2007 to 2013 the race was organized by Western Province Athletics, under a corporate sponsorship agreement with the national federation, Athletics South Africa. From 2014 its name changed to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, and it is being run under a joint partnership between Western Province Athletics, the City of Cape Town and Asem Running.

The 2013 men's winner Lindikhaya Mthangayi (2:17:02) was stripped of his title in 2014 due to a failed doping test for the steroid methandienone.[2] The original runner-up Paul Manawa was elevated to first place as a result.[2]

In 2014, 2015 and 2016 it was accredited with IAAF Silver Label status.[3] In 2017 it was the first African Marathon to achieve IAAF Gold Label Status, which it continues to achieve.

In 2018, Stephen Mokoka of South Africa set the men's course record at 2:08:31.

In 2019, Celestine Chepchirchir of Kenya set the women's course record at 2:26:44.

The 2020 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the option of obtaining a full refund.[4]

Other races

In addition to the marathon, the event includes the Sanlam Cape Town 10 km PEACE RUN / Walk, the Sanlam Cape Town Peace Trail Runs (12 km & 22 km) and the Sanlam Cape Town 5 km PEACE RUN / Walk.[5]

Environmental impact

The marathon is accredited as a Climate Neutral event and achieved zero waste to landfill.[citation needed]

Sponsorship

The marathon is sponsored by Sanlam and City of Cape Town.

Winners

Key:   Course record

Ed. Year Men's winner Time[a] Women's winner Time[a] Rf.
1 2007  Mluleki Nobanda (RSA) 2:14:46  Samukeliso Moyo (ZIM) 2:41:30
2 2008  Motlokoa Nkhabutlane (LES) 2:14:16  Samukeliso Moyo (ZIM) 2:42:12 [6]
3 2009  George Mofokeng (RSA) 2:14:20  Sharon Tavengwa (ZIM) 2:47:08
4 2010  Gert Thys (RSA) 2:22:12  Nomvuyisi Seti (RSA) 2:57:12
5 2011  Amos Maiyo (KEN) 2:14:55  Chiyedza Chokore (ZIM) 2:46:31
6 2012  Gilbert Mutandiro (ZIM) 2:19:16  Alicen Manake (ZIM) 2:51:37
7 2013  Paul Manawa (KEN)[b] 2:17:51  Samukeliso Moyo (ZIM) 2:42:46
8 2014  Willy Kibor (KEN) 2:10:41  Meseret Mengistu (ETH) 2:30:56
9 2015  Shadrack Kemboi (KEN) 2:11:41  Isabella Ochichi (KEN) 2:30:20
10 2016  Asefa Mengstu (ETH) 2:08:41  Tish Jones (UK) 2:36:13
11 2017  Asefa Mengstu (ETH) 2:10:01  Betelhem Moges (ETH) 2:30:22
12 2018  Stephen Mokoka (RSA) 2:08:31  Helalia Johannes (NAM) 2:29:28
13 2019  Edwin Koech (KEN) 2:09:20  Celestine Chepchirchir (KEN) 2:26:44
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic [4]
14 2021  Stephen Mokoka (RSA) 2:10:01  Lydia Simiyu (KEN) 2:25:44
15 2022  Stephen Mokoka (RSA) 2:09:58  Meseret Dinke Meleka (ETH) 2:24:02
16 2023  Adane Kebede Gebre (ETH) 2:11:29  Tsige Haileslase Abreha (ETH) 2:24:17

Multiple wins

By country

Country Total Men's Women's
 Kenya 8 5 3
 Zimbabwe 7 1 6
 South Africa 7 6 1
 Ethiopia 7 3 4
 Lesotho 1 1 0
 United Kingdom 1 0 1
 Namibia 1 0 1

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b h:m:s
  2. ^ Manawa had initially placed second, but the first place runner later tested positive for an anabolic steroid in 2014, annulling his win and promoting Manawa to first place.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Events Calendar | World Athletics". Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Hauman, Riël (2014-05-27). Cape Town Marathon Winner DQ’d For Doping. Competitor. Retrieved on 2015-09-21.
  3. ^ Calendar. IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-03-23.
  4. ^ a b "Sanlam Cape Town Marathon - 17 October 2021 - Enter online". 20 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Sanlam Cape Town Marathon - 17 October 2021 - Enter online". 20 February 2021.
  6. ^ Nedbank City of Cape Town marathon is a runaway success Archived 2 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine. City of Cape Town (2009-09-22). Retrieved on 2015-09-21.
List of winners
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