A growing force on the global road running l circuit, as Africa’s only World Athletics Gold Label race, this weekend’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has attracted elite athletes from across the continent and amateur entrants from around the globe.
As a candidate event to be added to the top-flight World Marathon Majors series, organisers will be eager to put on another good show at the four-day road running festival, which includes an expo starting on Thursday.
Here’s all you need to know about the race.
Where and when
The event includes six different races, which will be held over two days.
Saturday
46km trail race – 6am
22km trail race – 6.45am
10km road race – 7am
5km road race – 8.15am
Sunday
42.2km wheelchair race – 6am
42.2km road race – 6.15am
The 42.2km marathon race, to be held over a new route, starts at Helen Suzman Boulevard and finishes at Cape Town Stadium.
Spectators will be allowed at certain places along the course and around the finish area, and the race will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Elite line-up
Defending champion Stephen Mokoka headlines the elite field as he goes in search of his third victory at the annual race.
ALSO READ: Mokoka holds off foreign challenge at Cape Town Marathon
He will have to fight for it, however, against a quality international line-up led by 22-year-old Ethiopian athlete Gebru Redahgne, last year’s runner-up in the Mother City, who clocked an impressive personal best of 2:05:58 in Barcelona in May.
In the women’s race, the domestic field is expected to struggle against a world-class line-up which features Ethiopian athlete Mereset Dinke, who won the Geneva Marathon earlier this year.
In the wheelchair race, eight-time Paralympic medallist Ernst van Dyk will make a rare appearance in front of his home crowd, though in-form American athlete Aaron Pike, who was second at the Boston Marathon earlier this year, will turn out as the pre-race favourite.
Cut-off times
To be recognised as official finishers, participants must complete their respective events within certain cut-off times.
Road races
42.2km – 6.5 hours
10km – 2.5 hours
5km – 1.5 hours
Trail races
46km – 10 hours
22km – 5 hours
Race rewards
For the athletes up front, a prize purse of more than R1.3 million is up for grabs in the marathon race, including R250 000 for the men’s and women’s winners.
An additional R100 000 is also up for grabs for the winners if they break the race records held by Mokoka (2:08:31) and Kenyan athlete Lydia Simiyu (2:25:44).
Further back, with the 42km race open to 25 000 participants, all finishers will receive medals and t-shirts for their efforts.
