The Mother City is bracing for its most explosive running event yet. The 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, taking place on Sunday, 24 May, boasts a world-class elite field packed with 13 men and eight women who have previously run faster than the current course records. Starting and finishing in Green Point, the 32nd edition of the race promises unprecedented speeds as athletes hunt for glory, course records, and a significantly boosted prize purse.
A Massive Continental Footprint
Cape Town is set to welcome a massive wave of human energy, cementing its status as a premier global running festival. A staggering 27,000 marathoners will line up on Sunday, featuring elite runners and world-class wheelchair athletes.
When combined with the 17,500 participants tackling Saturday’s 10km and 5km Peace Runs, alongside the Cape Town Trail Marathon events, a total of 44,500 entrants will take to the roads and trails. This staggering turnout makes it one of the largest and most vibrant running celebrations on the African continent.
Heavyweights Chasing Majors Status
The star-studded lineup is a crucial milestone in the event’s high-stakes bid to become Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major. Currently nearing the end of phase 2 of the candidacy process, Cape Town aims to join the legendary ranks of Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Sydney. As a massive bonus, 2026 finishers will receive a provisional AbbottWMM finisher’s star.
Adding to the prestige, the city is simultaneously hosting the 2026 Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championships, drawing 1,800 elite master runners from across the globe. Clark Gardner, CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, noted:
“We have assembled the best marathon elite and wheelchair fields the African continent has ever seen… We feel confident that the record books will need updating after this year’s race.”
Kipchoge Leads Star-Studded Men’s Field
All eyes will inevitably fall on the legendary Eliud Kipchoge. At 41 years old, the two-time Olympic champion and former World Record-holder remains a lethal competitor, carrying a historic personal best of 2:01:09.
He faces fierce opposition from Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa, who holds a blistering 2:04:49 season best from Chicago. With eight men in the field boasting sub-2:05 times, the current course record of 2:08:16 is under serious threat. Local hopes rest on South African legend and three-time Cape Town winner Stephen Mokoka, alongside local debutant Anthony Timoteus.
Tactical Warfare in the Women’s and Wheelchair Divisions
The women’s race features an elite Ethiopian trio—Ruti Aga, Dera Dida, and Mestawat Fikir—all with sub-2:19 credentials. They will face formidable challenge from seasoned icons: Lonah Salpeter (2:17:45 PB) and 47-year-old two-time World Champion Edna Kiplagat. They will all be chasing the 2:22:22 course record set by South Africa’s Glenrose Xaba in 2024.
Meanwhile, the wheelchair division is equally fierce. Defending champion Sho Watanabe of Japan leads the men’s field against icons like Great Britain’s David Weir. In the women’s wheelchair category, Swiss superstar Manuela Schär is favoured to dominate, though Japan’s Tsubasa Nakamine and retiring veteran Christie Dawes of the USA will ensure a thrilling battle to the finish line.
