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Cape Town, South Africa — Tuesday, 10th September 2024 — The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has reached a record-breaking sellout of 21,000 participants for the 2024 event, bolstered by the success of the #YouDoCount campaign. This achievement further cements the marathon’s status as the leading marathon on the African continent as it continues to pursue the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) status. The overwhelming support from local and international running communities has played a vital role in hitting this milestone.
This year’s marathon promises to be one of the most thrilling in the event’s history, with the strongest elite field ever to compete on African soil. This remarkable field boasts an astounding list of accolades, including:
- 2 Gold World Champion Medals
- 1 Silver World Champion Medal
- Olympic Bronze Marathon Medal
- 1 All African Games Gold Medal
- 13 Abbott World Marathon Majors Medals, 5 of which are gold
- 1 World Record Holder
- 10 World Athletics Gold Label Elites
A Major Worthy Prize Pool
The stakes are higher than ever, and a prize pool of $50,000 is on offer for the top podium finishers. Both the men’s and women’s marathon champions will take home $25,000, while the second and third-place finishers will receive $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Barry Van Blerk, Race Director of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, expressed his excitement: “This year’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is set to showcase the best marathon elite field ever assembled on African soil. With a prize pool to match, we expect an extraordinary level of competition, and, weather permitting, the course records will undoubtedly be challenged.”
Here’s how it’s broken down:
For the marathon distance, the individual prize money up for grabs is as follows:
| Position | Open* |
| 1st | $25,000 |
| 2nd | $15,000 |
| 3rd | $10,000 |
| 4th | $8,000 |
| 5th | $6,000 |
| 6th | $4,500 |
| 7th | $3,000 |
| 8th | $2,000 |
| 9th | $1,000 |
| 10th | $500 |
In addition, we have close to $6,000 in incentives from RSA and WPA for local athletes, as well as various age group prizes. Of course, there’s that lucrative course record prize of $15,000 to be snatched, and the SA record earns you a prize of $5,000. Furthermore, we have prize money up for grabs at our Wheelchair, our 10km Peace Run, and our Trail events.
Battle for the South African Marathon Record
All eyes will be on South African athletes Glenrose Xaba and Cian Oldknow as they aim to make history. Xaba, in her marathon debut, has already proven herself by breaking Elana Meyer’s 23-year-old 10 km record and reigning supreme over multiple distances, including 5,000m, 10,000m, and 10 km. As she transitions to the marathon distance, Xaba’s rise will pose a significant threat to the established marathoners.
On the other hand, Cian Oldknow’s marathon PB of 2:25:08 from the Seville Marathon in February earlier this year is the second fastest time by a South African. Oldknow was crowned SA Marathon Champion at the Durban International Marathon in April with a 2:29:46. She’s on a mission to claim the South African women’s marathon record. This fierce contest may unfold between her and Xaba. With both athletes at the peak of their powers, the race will be nothing short of spectacular.
Defending Champions Return
The 2023 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon winners, Tsige Haileslase (Ethiopia) and Adane Kebede Gebre (Ethiopia), will return to defend their titles. Haileslase, who crossed the finish line last year with a personal best of 2:24:17, is back and determined to secure back-to-back victories. Gebre, a force to be reckoned with in the men’s race, will also face fierce competition as he aims for consecutive wins against this year’s stacked field.
International Elite Athletes
In addition to the South African and defending champions, several global stars will compete, including:
- Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia), former World Champion (2019), all-African Games winner, and winner of multiple international marathons (New York & Boston).
- Dennis Kipruto Kimetto (Kenya), 2014 marathon world record holder (2:02:51) and winner of major marathons in Berlin and Chicago.
- Mare Dibaba (Ethiopia), World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist, who remains a dominant figure in marathon running.
“There’s no doubt that African runners dominate in the sport, and as a proudly Pan-African group, it is only fitting that we ensure the rest of the continent can unite in Cape Town to run Africa’s only Abbott World Marathon Majors candidacy race,” shares Karl Socikwa – Group Executive of Market Development and Sustainability at Sanlam, the event’s title sponsor. “We have extended invitations to athletics bodies across our 27 markets in an attempt to identify promising top marathon runners. Our commitment to unlocking Africa’s untapped talent will see 25 athletes from countries such as Mali, Namibia, Botswana, and more compete confidently on a world stage on African soil.”
Course Records and Route Expectations
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon course records, currently held by Stephen Mokoka (2:08:32, Men, 2018) and Meseret Dinke Meleka (2:24:02, Women, 2022), are set to be tested by the incredible depth of talent in this year’s field. With the South African marathon records of 2:06:33 for men and 2:24:03 for women within reach, 2024 may see new national records being written.
In addition to the extraordinary competitive field, race organisers have worked closely with the City of Cape Town to ensure a safe and seamless experience for both runners and spectators. JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, praised the collaboration, stating, “The City’s Events Coordination Committee has been working diligently behind the scenes with race management, mapping out all the logistical plans for a safe and secure route for the marathon. All of our safety and security personnel are preparing to provide a smooth and excellent platform for this elite field of athletes to chase their personal bests. We are looking forward to providing the Cape Town experience for an elite field of athletes.”
With such an impressive lineup of athletes and the excitement of the SA marathon record showdown, the 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is once again set to be one of the most exciting races of the marathon calendar.
For more information, please visit the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon website – www.capetownmarathon.com
Media Contact: Renata Bossi, Head of Marketing – [email protected]
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