2026 Cape Town Marathon

2026 Cape Town Marathon
Runners on Victoria Road during the 2026 Cape Town Marathon
VenueCape Town, South Africa
Date24 May 2026
Champions
MenMohamed Esa (2:04:55)
WomenDera Dida Yami (2:23:18)
Wheelchair menDavid Weir (1:30:20)
Wheelchair womenManuela Schär (1:43:25)

The 2026 Cape Town Marathon[a] was the 32nd edition of the Cape Town Marathon, an annual marathon held in Cape Town, South Africa. The race was held during the final phase of the event's candidacy for admission to the Abbott World Marathon Majors, after the 2025 edition had been cancelled because of severe winds.[1][2]

The men's race was won by Ethiopia's Mohamed Esa in 2:04:55, the fastest marathon time recorded on African soil. Ethiopia's Dera Dida Yami won the women's race in 2:23:18. The men's course record and both wheelchair course records were broken during the event.[3][4]

Background

The 2026 race took place during the final phase of the Cape Town Marathon's candidacy for admission to the Abbott World Marathon Majors. The race had passed the first stage of the assessment process after the 2024 edition, and the 2025 edition was expected to form part of the second stage of evaluation.[5][1]

The 2025 marathon was cancelled on race day after severe winds damaged event infrastructure and created safety concerns. The cancellation delayed the race's opportunity to complete the next phase of the Abbott World Marathon Majors assessment process.[2][6]

Abbott World Marathon Majors confirmed that finishers of the 2026 Cape Town Marathon would receive a provisional AbbottWMM star. The organisation said the provisional stars would be fully recognised if Cape Town achieved its second evaluation pass in 2026. The 2026 event was also scheduled to host the AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Championships.[7]

The 2026 event weekend included 27,000 marathon runners and 17,500 participants across associated road and trail events, including the 10 km and 5 km Peace Runs and the Cape Town Trail Marathon events, for a combined field of 44,500. The 10 km Peace Run sold out its 11,500 entries, while about 4,500 participants took part in the 5 km Peace Run.[8][9]

Elite races

The elite marathon races were held on Sunday, 24 May. On the eve of the marathon, organisers described the men's field as the fastest assembled for a marathon on African soil, with course records, South African records and African all-comers records expected to be challenged.[9]

Men

The men's elite field included Eliud Kipchoge, the two-time Olympic marathon champion and former marathon world record holder. The Cape Town race was his first marathon on African soil and marked the start of his project to run a marathon on each of the seven continents over a two-year period.[10]

Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia won the men's race in 2:04:55, breaking the Cape Town Marathon course record and recording the fastest marathon time on African soil. Ethiopia's Yihunilign Adane finished second in 2:04:59, and Kenya's Kalipus Lomwai finished third in 2:05:06.[3][11] Kipchoge finished 16th in 2:13:29.[12]

Women

Dera Dida Yami of Ethiopia won the women's race in 2:23:18. Mestawut Fikir finished second in 2:23:46, and Waganesh Amare finished third in 2:23:57, completing an Ethiopian sweep of the women's podium.[11][3]

Wheelchair races

David Weir of Great Britain won the men's wheelchair race in 1:30:20, setting a course record. Jetze Plat of the Netherlands finished second in 1:33:12, with Sho Watanabe of Japan and Zhang Ying of China both awarded bronze after finishing in 1:33:43.[11][4]

Manuela Schär of Switzerland won the women's wheelchair race in 1:43:25, also setting a course record. Chen Xiaochun and Deng Yirun, both of China, finished second and third respectively.[11][4]

Other races

In the 10 km Peace Run, South Africa's Maxime Chaumeton won the men's race in a course record 27:42, ahead of Thapelo Ramokhoase and Cwenga Nose. Tayla Kavanagh won the women's race for the third consecutive year, setting a course record of 31:25. Kyla Jacobs finished second and Lesotho's Neheng Khatala finished third.[9]

In the 5 km Peace Run, Spain's Iker Ortega Castro was the first man across the line, while South Africa's Carmen Kensley was the first woman home.[9]

The Cape Town Trail Marathon events were held on Saturday, 23 May, over routes through and around Table Mountain National Park. In the 43 km Cape Town Trail Marathon, Philani Sengce won the men's race for the second consecutive year in 3:48:03, breaking his own course record. Maryke van Zyl won the women's race in 5:04:58, ahead of Simone Malan and Ashleigh Graham.[13][14]

In the 22 km trail race, Remaketse Lekaka won the men's race in 1:41:59 and Bianca Tarboton won the women's race in 1:48:26. In the 11 km trail race, Liam Matthews won the men's race and Heidi de Jager won the women's race.[14]

Results

Men

PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Mohamed Esa Ethiopia2:04:55
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Yihunilign Adane Ethiopia2:04:59
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Kalipus Lomwai Kenya2:05:06
4Leonard Langat Kenya2:05:26
5Jemal Yimer Ethiopia2:05:48
6Mulugeta Uma Ethiopia2:06:19
7Maru Teferi Israel2:06:46
8Abebaw Dessie Muniye Ethiopia2:06:57
9Benard Kipkurui Biwott Kenya2:07:34
10Justus Kipkogei Kangogo Kenya2:07:42

Women

PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Dera Dida Yami Ethiopia2:23:18
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Mestawut Fikir Ethiopia2:23:46
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Waganesh Amare Ethiopia2:23:57
4Leah Cheruto Kenya2:24:31
5Edna Kiplagat Kenya2:25:44
6Gojjam Enyew Ethiopia2:26:24
7Mercy Jerop Kwambai Kenya2:30:36
8Desi Jisa Mokonin Brunei2:30:44
9Cynthia Jerotich Limo Kenya2:32:00
10Salmi Nduviteko Namibia2:33:23

Wheelchair men

PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)David Weir United Kingdom1:30:20
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Jetze Plat Netherlands1:33:12
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Sho Watanabe Japan1:33:43
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Zhang Ying China1:33:43
5Geert Schipper Netherlands1:33:45
6Aaron Pike United States1:35:57
7Ma Zhuo China1:40:15
8Kota Hokinoue Japan1:40:39
9Hiroki Nishida Japan1:41:07
10Brian Siemann United States1:52:57

Wheelchair women

PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Manuela Schär Switzerland1:43:25
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Chen Xiaochun China1:52:21
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Deng Yirun China1:57:05
4Christie Dawes Australia1:58:46
5Zhang Yuan China2:12:27
6Hannah Babalola Nigeria2:12:27
7Yeni Hernandez Mexico2:16:31
8Rita Cuccuru Italy2:36:18

Other races

10 km Peace Run

Men[9]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Maxime Chaumeton South Africa27:42
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Thapelo Ramokhoase South Africa28:34
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Cwenga Nose South Africa29:00
4Arthur Jantjies South Africa29:19
5Luan Munnik South Africa29:23
Women[9]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Tayla Kavanagh South Africa31:26
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Kyla Jacobs South Africa32:48
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Neheng Khatala Lesotho33:02
4Cacisile Sosibo South Africa33:03
5Carina Viljoen South Africa33:25

5 km Peace Run

Men[9]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Iker Ortega Castro Spain17:14
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Jiunhung Chen Chinese Taipei17:28
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Mark Milde Germany17:30
Women[9]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Carmen Kensley South Africa17:53
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Michelle Geldenhuys South Africa18:07
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Emma Winter United Kingdom18:12

Cape Town Trail Marathon 43 km

Men[15]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Philani Sengce South Africa3:48:03
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Simon Ngumbau Kenya3:55:24
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Kyle Bucklow South Africa3:59:50
4Isaya Kiriago Kenya4:08:46
5Dennis Kiyaka Kenya4:11:04
Women[15]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Maryke van Zyl South Africa5:04:58
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Simone Malan South Africa5:13:32
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Ashleigh Graham South Africa5:14:31
4Jessie Waldman United Kingdom5:24:18
5Chare Calitz South Africa5:43:33

Cape Town Trail 22 km

Men[15]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Remaketse Lekaka South Africa1:41:59
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Giovanni Bianco Italy1:43:08
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Riaan Wildschutt South Africa1:43:28
4Wano Katjiri South Africa1:48:05
5Melihaya Msizi South Africa1:50:51
Women[15]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Bianca Tarboton South Africa1:48:26
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Ebeth Marais South Africa1:56:35
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Louise Dippenaar South Africa2:03:48
4Megan Launder South Africa2:35:31
5Stephanie Warren Canada2:37:21

Cape Town Trail 11 km

Men[15]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Liam Matthews South Africa51:29
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Siyabonga Chabalala South Africa54:04
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Michael de Kwaadsteniet South Africa57:11
Women[15]
PositionNameCountryTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Heidi de Jager South Africa1:01:27
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Mineé van den Berg South Africa1:01:37
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Olga Antoniceva Latvia1:02:49

Notes

  1. ↑ Known as the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon for sponsorship reasons.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sumo comes to London, while Cape Town's marathon steps up". Reuters. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Cape Town Marathon cancelled after high winds cause safety concerns". Reuters. 19 October 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Results from the 2026 Cape Town Marathon". Runner's World. 24 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Ullyett, Sue (24 May 2026). "Fastest Marathon on African Soil as Cape Town Marathon Records Shattered". Runner's World South Africa. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Cape Town takes a step towards the Majors". Abbott World Marathon Majors. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  6. ↑ Butler, Lynn (20 October 2025). "Devastated Cape Town Marathon 'not giving up' on historic World Major Marathon bid". News24. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Cape Town 2026 finishers will receive provisional star". Abbott World Marathon Majors. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "World Class Field Promises Record Times at 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon". Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. 21 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wentzel, Memphis (23 May 2026). "Course Records Shattered in 10km Peace Run at Sanlam Cape Town Marathon". Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Kipchoge starts continental quest in Cape Town with first Marathon in Africa". Reuters. 9 March 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 2026 Results". SportSplits. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Hemmonsbey, Keanan (24 May 2026). "WRAP | Cape Town Marathon: Records tumble on a perfect day for rapid running". News24. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Mother City Provides Excellent Backdrop for Cape Town Trail Marathon Winners". Cape Town Trail Marathon. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  14. 1 2 Granger, Stephen (24 May 2026). "Philani-power overcomes Kenyan threat at Cape Town Trail Marathon". SPNAfrica. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Granger, Stephen (24 May 2026). "Philani-power overcomes Kenyan threat at Cape Town Trail Marathon". SPNAfrica. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
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