Runners from all over the world will descend on Cape Town this week in preparation for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, which takes place this weekend.
The start and finish will be moved to Helen Suzman Boulevard, where runners will start in seeded batched groups two minutes apart. The race’s staggered start was successfully implemented in 2021.
Sanlam Cape Town Marathon defending champion and record holder Stephen Mokoka, as well as SA national marathon champion Jenet Mbhele, have been named South Africa’s top contenders in the men’s and women’s fields for this year’s long-distance run.
Lydia Simiyu, a 25-year-old elite Kenyan runner, won her debut race in 2021, taking first place and breaking the marathon course record.
According to the organisers, the route changes “also allow for the staging of an elite wheelchair race, which will add a thrilling high-speed element to the marathon experience; the wheelchair race will start 15 minutes before the rest of the elites set off, and a lightning-fast finish time of approximately 1:30:00 is expected.”
“While the route has been slightly altered, athletes will still pass beloved iconic landmarks as they travel through the Mother City’s diverse communities.”
“Madiba will still greet them from the City Hall balcony, giving them the energy they need for the final 12km of their marathon, and they will still be energised by the fresh ocean air as they run along Beach Road before heading to the finish line.” “We’re going all out to show the world how to run a marathon to African music,” said Clark Gardner, Group CEO of Faces.
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