Cape Town Marathon organisers have announced the headline stars for the 14th edition of Africa’s premier marathon.
Alongside the focus on achieving Abbott World Marathon Majors status for the 2026 event, the race seeks to elevate running on the continent.
As such, South African athletes specifically and African athletes more generally will take centre stage among the sold-out 24 000-strong field.
Best elite field
“With the help of our partners, the City of Cape Town, and the citizens of the Mother City, we achieved an unconditional pass for Stage 1 of our Abbott World Marathon Majors candidacy in 2024. In 2025, we are undertaking Stage 2 and to that end have secured the best elite marathon field in the race’s history,” Clark Gardner, CEO of the Cape Town Marathon, stated.
“Where London and New York vie to be the biggest marathons in the world, we believe the Cape Town Marathon can be the best. Our beautiful route, the dedication of our sponsors and partners, and the enthusiasm of the city’s runners and residents are key to achieving this feat.”
“100 days from race day, we had already reached our 24 000 capacity for 2025, and we are confident that come 19 October, we will have a new record number of finishers too,” Gardner continued.
Beyond the amateur runners who are the beating heart of the event, the announcement of the elite athletes is always eagerly anticipated.
With 50 days to race day, six platinum and gold gold status elite athletes were unveiled at a press conference in Cape Town.
All 14 hail from Africa, and each is capable of breaking the existing course records.
Ronald Korit, with a personal best of 2:04:22, is the fastest man on the start list, just ahead of his Kenyan countryman, Bethwel Chumba Kibet, who holds a 2:04:37 PB.
New South African marathon record holder Elroy Gelant’s time of 2:05:36 is quick enough to worry the East African favourites, and is faster by a slender four seconds than the best effort, to date, of Ethiopia’s Boki Kebede Asefa.
If they are able to get close to those times, the 2:08:16 course record, set by Abdisa Tola in 2024, will be challenged.
‘So excited’
The elite women’s field is headlined by the queen of South African ultra-running, Gerda Steyn.
“I’m so excited and so honoured to announce that I will be lining up for the 2025 Cape Town Marathon,” the four-time Comrades Marathon winner and six-time Two Oceans champion said.
“I can’t wait for 19 October! And most of all to share the beautiful route with thousands and thousands of my fellow runners. The Cape Town Marathon has always been close to my heart, and the last time I ran this race was in 2021. I can still remember crossing the finish line that day. I felt so proud that we have such an amazing race here on South African soil.”
Steyn’s personal best over the marathon distance was set that day and was the course record until Glenrose Xaba bettered it last year.
The presence of Kenya’s Winfridah Moseti (2:16:56), Angela Tanui (2:17:57), also of Kenya, and Ethiopian 2024 runner-up Mare Dibaba (2:19:59) should ensure a fast time and a competitive edition.
Will you be lacing up your shoes for one of the Cape Town Marathon races?
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