Xaba and Tola re-write the record books at Sanlam’s Cape Town Marathon

Rising Ethiopian marathon star, Abdisa Tola, and South Africa’s running great, Glenrose ‘Supercharger’ Xaba, created marathon history in Cape Town this morning (Sunday 20 October) when they defied the elements to race to record-breaking victories at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

Moments after Xaba crossed the line in triumph a fighter jet flew low over the finish gantry, signalling another South African sporting triumph, in the manner of the memorable flyover at the rugby world cup final in Johannesburg in 1995.

Inspired by older brother Tamarit Tola’s gold medal in the Paris Olympics in August, Abdisa set his sights on winning Africa’s most prestigious marathon and making a statement on his home continent. And he overcame tough conditions and the strongest field ever assembled for a marathon in Africa to return a course record 2:08:16 victory in front of thousands of cheering spectators.

As impressive was Tola’s performance (1189 points on the international athletics ranking), on the day he was eclipsed by a superb marathon debut by Xaba, who delivered the fastest marathon ever run on the continent, smashing both Gerda Steyn’s national record of 2:24:03 and Tsige Haileslassie’s 2:24:02 Cape Town Marathon race record out the park with her 2:22:22 victory (1209 points).

Tola and Xaba both won $40 000 (R700 000) for their win and record incentive, with Xaba netting a further R25 000 as the first South African to finish.

While the wind was undoubtedly a factor up front, it was clear that the racing elite both on foot and in wheelchairs, were blown away by the overall Cape Town Marathon experience.

“It was great to be able to run a world class race in Africa. Even though it was windy, the course and the crowds were great!” said Tola.

“I’ve never before raced in Africa in my career – I’ve always had to go to Europe or Asia,” reflected third-placed woman, Kenyan Pascalia Chepkogei. “It means a lot to me to have raced in Cape Town and to have placed third.”

“Cape Town Marathon is without doubt the best I’ve raced in my career,” last year’s wheelchair marathon champion and this year’s runner-up Geert Schipper reflected. “You have opened all the windows for us and made it a top event.”

And while the notorious ‘Cape Doctor’ was at work today to cleanse air pollution in the city, World Athletics is encouraging marathons with ‘character’ rather than an over-emphasis on flat, fast and windless.

But the day belonged to Xaba whose courageous performance ran herself into the hearts of South Africans.

“At 33km I was running further than I’d ever gone before and for a moment I was anxious. But my pacemaker (South African distance athlete, Benedict Moeng, who ran a 2hrs 10 min marathon in China ten years ago) encouraged me to stay focused and keep up with the pace.

“I know that the marathon is won by both the head and the heart and when my head started to ask questions, my heart kept me racing hard.

“Mare Dibaba came past me at 40 km but I knew that I had  my 10km speed (she recently broke Elana Meyer’s long-standing national 10km record) and was confident I would win.”

Xaba also paid tribute to her coaching team – Caster and Violet Semenya, who were there to congratulate their charge as she crossed the finish line – and looked ahead to her role as a mentor.

“My coaching team, training partners and pacemakers have all been part of this marathon record.  Looking ahead I’d like to keep my focus on being consistent and to be a role model for younger athletes to look up to me.”

Tola had debuted in the marathon with a commanding 2:05:42 in Dubai last year and was looking to consolidate his career with a good result in Cape Town.  Part of an elite training group in Ethiopia with brother Tamirat, Abdisa looks destined for higher honours.

Tola senior upped the ante in the final quarter of the Olympic Marathon to break his rivals with the strength of his running and his younger brother adopted similar tactics in Cape Town.

Earlier, three times Cape Town Marathon champion, Stephen Mokoka, had played his role well as designated pacesetter, leading the field into a stiff south-easter wind through the first 15km before spearheading a group of fifteen athletes through 21km in 1:05:27.

Five Ethiopians, four South Africans, three Kenyans, two Zimbabweans and a Ugandan engaged in close combat for the first half of the race before South Africa’s Melikhaya Frans changed gear and split the lead group apart.

 Racing along Liesbeek Parkway with the wind at his back, Frans surged into the lead from 24km and by the time he was caught, only six remained in contention, the Ethiopian quintet and Frans.

Following his brother’s lead from Paris, Tola began to push the pace into the final quarter with Frans falling out of contention for the silverware at 29km as the athletes approached the city centre on their return journey.

Ethiopians Adeladlew Mamo and Gaddisa Tafa Dekeba were casualities as Tola increased the pace,  leaving defending champion Adane Kebede and Mitku Tafa Dekeba in touch as the trio entered the Company Gardens, 30km into the race.

Dekeba was next to falter, victim of another Tola surge, but Kebede was not about to lightly surrender his title and stayed in touch as Tola sped down Long Street and before turning towards Sea Point and the final sector.

Tola made his final move on the ‘Loop of Death’ as the athletes turned for home at the Sea Point Promenade. Kebede fought hard to stay the pace but the ‘elastic broke’ along Beach Road and Tola was 6 seconds clear through 40km in 2:01:21. A course record beckoned.

It was all over bar the shouting, of which there was plenty from the cheering spectators, and Tola crossed the finish line in the Green Point sports precinct, 15 seconds inside Mokoka’s previous mark.

Kebede followed in second, 16 seconds later and just a second outside the former record, with Dekebe completing the podium.  Kenya’s Edward Konana ran a strong second half to finish fourth, ahead of the first South African, Frans.

Xaba was at the vanguard of an eight-strong pack through halfway in a strong women’s competition,  running close behind three designated pacers.

The South African led five Kenyans and two Ethiopians on a swift tempo run towards the city centre and the pack soon halved in size.  Xaba led former world champion, Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia, and Kenyan pair, Pascalia Chepkogei and Viola Chepngeno through 30km in 1:41:46 and into the Company Gardens.

Chepngeno fell behind, leaving the remaining trio together in the final sector, with Dibaba overtaking Xaba as the athletes hit 40km in 2:14:57.

Spurred into action, Xaba accelerated past Dibaba, immediately opening a gap which grew to 14 seconds as she broke the tape in triumph in 2:22:22.

Dibaba and Chepkogei both dipped below 2 hrs 23 min to complete the fastest women’s podium on the continent, all three athletes speaking enthusiastically about a return to Cape Town next year.

Several of the world’s leading wheelchair athletes competed in Cape Town on the weekend with both the men’s and women’s competitions providing close contests.  Eight countries were represented among the men’s top ten finishers.

Japanese athlete, Sho Watanabe, downed defending champion, Geert Schipper, of the Netherlands in a sprint finish, both athletes timed at 1:37:33, while American Michelle Wheeler (2:03:22) finished two minutes clear of Mauritian Noemi Alphonse in the women’s contest.

2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Results

Men’s Results

1. Abdisa Tola (Ethiopia) 2:08:16

2. Adane Kebede Gebre (Ethiopia) 2:08:32

3. Mitku Tafa Dekeba (Ethiopia) 2:10:10

4. Edward Konana Koonyo (Kenya) 2:11:24

5. Melikhaya Frans (South Africa) 2:12:18

6. Oscar Kibet (Uganda) 2:12:28

7. Adeladlew Mamo Gebreyohannes (Ethiopia) 2:12:37

8. Desmond Mokgobu (RSA) 2:12:40

9. Moses Tarakinyu (Zimb) 2:13:11

10. Puseletso Mofokeng (RSA) 2:13:31

Women’s Results

1. Glenrose Xaba (South Africa) 2:22:22

2. Mare Dibaba Hurssa (Ethiopia) 2:22:36

3. Pascalia Chepkogei (Kenya) 2:22:49

4. Viola Chepngeno (Kenya) 2:23:23

5. Emmah Cheruto Ndiwa (2:25:14)

6. Tsige Haileslase (Ethiopia) 2:27:07

7. Faith Chepkoech (Kenya) 2:28:00

8.Joan Jepkemoi Kipyatich (Kenya) 2:28:45

9. Alemenesh Herpha Guta (Ethiopia) 2:31:49

10. Emma Westensee (RSA) 2:37:32

2024 Wheelchair Invitational at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Results

Men’s Wheelchair Invitational Results

1. Sho Watanabe (Japan) 1:37:33

2. Geert Schipper (Netherlands) 1:37:33

3. Kota Hokinoue (Japan) 1:46:18

4. Lito Anker (Netherlands) 1:49:33

5. Michael McCabe (GBR) 1:49:34

Women’s Wheelchair Invitational Results

1. Michelle Wheeler (USA) 2:03:22

2. Noemi Alphonse (Mauritius) 2:05:55

3. Linden Williamson (USA) 2:14:59

4. Merle Menje (Germany) 2:21:37

5 Yeni Hernandez (Mexico) 2:23:15