Ethiopian runner Mohamed Esa delivered a historic performance at the Cape Town Marathon, winning in a course-record time of 2:04:55 — the fastest marathon ever run on African soil. Esa finished ahead of fellow Ethiopian Yihunilign Adane and Kenyan runner Kalipus Lomwai, who both achieved personal bests. Meanwhile, marathon legend and two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge placed 16th. In the women’s race, Ethiopia completed a clean sweep as Dera Dida Yami claimed victory in 2:23:18. Organizers hope the successful event strengthens Cape Town’s campaign to join the World Marathon Majors in 2027, a prestigious circuit that includes races in London, New York, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, Sydney, and Tokyo.
Reuters
