Zimbabwean Collin Kanyimo and British athlete Catherine Williamson took the trail honours in the 44km Cape Town Trail Marathon by Ryan Sandes this morning (Saturday 19 October) with Tayla Kavanagh and Deon-Lee Hendricks overcoming breezy conditions to record emphatic victories in the Sanlam 10km Peace Run.
Perfect conditions for trail running proved challenging in the wind for short distance road speed merchants and Kanyimo’s impressive display on the mountain trails and Kavanagh’s remarkable winning time of 32 min 38 sec were the performances of the day.
Based in Gauteng, Kanyimo has raced Cape trails with mixed fortunes, his victory in the Two Oceans Marathon 24km in 2021, offset against his struggles at the Cape Town Trail Marathon, where he fell back to finish 5th and 7th in the last two years respectively, after racing in the lead early on.
Adopting a more cautious approach and benefitting from the forced change of route due to the flood-damage to trails on top of the mountain, Kanyimo took the lead near the King’s Blockhouse at 25km and raced clear to win by more than eight minutes ahead of surprise package, Perfect Dlamini.
“I’ve had some problems with this race,” Kanyimo admitted, acknowledging the less technical, more runnable route had suited him. “So I thought it best to go out a bit more cautiously today.
“There were a few of us (Dlamini, Iain Peterkin and Philani Sengce) who ran close together for the first half and I was happy to keep it there until I felt it time to make a move.”
And when he did, it was show over, as the Salomon athlete sped away from his rivals to record an impressive victory and claim the R50 000 first prize.
The two leaders through halfway at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Dlamini and Iain Peterkin, enjoyed different journeys in the second stanza, with KZN road runner, Dlamini, having the time of his life in his first-ever trail race, finishing strongly to take second position.
Peterkin, however, was less fortunate. Having finished second in the Puffer Trail Run 65km last month, he suffered crippling cramps today and limped home in 7th place, 25 minutes off the lead.
“I’ve been a road athlete all my life,” said Dlamini. “But my sponsor, Salomon, and my coach suggested I try out the Cape Town Trail Marathon. “Fortunately, with my prize money I think my wife will let me carry one running a bit longer!
“I found the first half more difficult and struggled to keep up with the leaders especially on the descent from the Devil’s Peak Saddle, but the second half was more runnable and I was able to hold my own. But when Collin surged away I could not hold him.”
Local trail runner, Kyle Bucklow wore one of the biggest smiles as he crossed the line in third, after making up several positions in the second half.
Catherine Williamson first discovered the Cape’s mountain trails on her mountain bike, and she took line honours at the 2013 Cape Epic in partnership with South African Yolande Speedy. She has returned in recent years to revisit the trails on foot and has taken to trail running with success.
Last year Williamson finished second to Cape Town athlete, Sam Reilly, but was second to none this morning, overhauling early leader, Rebecca Watney, to win by eight minutes.
“I think the change of route was in my favour,” admitted Williamson. “Rebecca was stronger in the first half over the more technical terrain and I was able to catch her in the second and hold on for the win.’
One of the most improved trail athletes in 2024, Watney finished a strong second to Bianca Tarboton at the Otter TERREX Trail two weeks ago. “Perhaps I should not have run today,” admitted Watney, who led the field through halfway after a bad fall which cut her knee. “I felt good in the first half but had nothing left when Catherine caught me near the King’s Blockhouse 25km into the race.”
Illness to Landie Greyling and Kerry-Anne Marshall in the week prior to the race impacted the race. The two veterans of trail running in South Africa both felt sufficiently recovered to start, but after running with the leaders early on, Greyling called it a day at the Kirstenbosch Aid Station, 19,5km into the race.
Marshall took a more conservative path, starting cautiously before moving up the field, and was in fourth place at halfway, three minutes behind French athlete Olivia Dubern.
Marshall had closed to within a minute of Dubern at the final checkpoint on Signal Hill and drew level where the trail led onto tarmac for the final kilometre. An all-out contest on the road saw Marshall run clear to claim the final podium position.
Earlier Deon-Lee Hendricks held off his Athletes Academy teammate, Awethu Ntsotho, by 14 seconds to win the Sanlam Cape Town Peace Run 10km, and was the only athlete to beat the 30-minute mark in the prevailing conditions, clocking 29:50.
The women’s race proved a thrilling contest between road specialist, Kavanagh, and 1500m track star, Carina Viljoen, running her 10km debut. Both athletes were outstanding in the wind, with Kavanagh coming out on top by 10 seconds in an outstanding 32:48, just 28 seconds outside her personal best.
“Today’s run was a bit challenging with the wind, but I just wanted to go out and run hard from the start. It was a bit of a shock when we turned for home coming back into the wind, but I said to myself ‘just put your head down and go for it’!
“I’ve been here since Wednesday, and it’s been great to be a part of this great event. Even though I’m not a marathon runner, I wanted to be a part of this weekend.”
Steeplechase specialist, Siboniso Soldaka, has ruled the 22km Cape Town Peace Trail for several years and added another title to his impressive haul, winning by three minutes ahead of fellow-Protea, Jacques du Plessis, in 1:26:40, while Mila Geldenhuys was even more dominant in the women’s race, winning by 11 minutes over Nicola Vahrmeijer in 1:50:24.
Sanlam Cape Town Marathon | Cape Town Trail Marathon Results
44km Men:
1. Collin Kanyimo (Zimb) (3:59:42)
2. Perfect Dlamini (4:08:11 | +8:29)
3. Kyle Bucklow (4:09:50 | +10:09)
4. Philani Sengce (4:10:33 | +10:52)
5. Solicitor Manduwa (4:12:29 | +12:48)
6. Brandon Gleeson 4:17:44
7. Iain Peterkin 4:24:51
8. Joshua Chigome 4:33:25
9 Tlhohelang Lekhisa 4:33:25
10 Thabang Madiba 4:36:08
44km Women:
1. Catherine Williamson (GBR) (4:38:27)
2. Rebecca Watney (4:46:38 | +8:11)
3. Kerry-Ann Marshall (5:01:00 | +22:34)
4. Olivia Dubern (5:01:51 | +23:25)
5. Quinta Joubert (5:24:32 | +46:05)
6. Mia Uys (5:43:53)
7. Christy Richards (5:48:58)
8. Jaime Farara (5:50:30)
9. Ioana ‘Jo’ Keppler (5:50:56)
10 Ottillie Aimwata (Namibia) (5:56:00)
22km Men:
1. Siboniso Soldaka (1:26:40)
2. Jacques du Plessis (1:29:55 | +3:15)
3. Mxolisi Ndlovu (1:30:57 | +4:17)
4. Lovemore Nyaude (1:31:58 | +5:18)
5. Zibele Bala (1:32:40 | +6:00)
22km Women:
1. Mila Geldenhuys (1:50:24)
2. Nicola Vahrmeijer (2:01:56 | +11:32)
3. Dunya Ansems Swart (2:08:28 | +18:05)
4. Sabrina Errington (2:09:19 | +18:56)
5. Alex Eales (2:14:01 | +23:37)
11km Men:
1. Marin Perard (50:08)
2. Anton Moldenhauer (51:46 | +1:39)
3. Matthew Metivier (52:13 | +2:06)
4. Liam Matthews (54:24 | +4:16)
5. Shaun van Zyl (55:55 | + 5:48)
11km Women:
1. Isabelle Shoshani (1:03:17)
2. Ziska van Dyk (1:04:41 | +1:25)
3. Olga Antoniceva (1:06:55 | +3:39)
4. Erika Mohr-Holland (1:07:05 | +3:48)
5. Heather Gordon (1:07:12 | +3:55)
2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon | Peace Run 10km Results:
Men:
1. Deon-Lee Hendricks (Athletes Academy) 29:50; 2. Awethu Ntsotho (Athletes Academy) 30:04; 3 Zenzile Pheko (Kopano) 30:13; 4 Siphiwe Mqayisa (Teemanemg) 30:56; 5 Duane Fortuin (Retail Capital Langa) 31:01; 6 Thulan Lukuleni (City of Mbombela) 31:09; 7 Lorenzo Pieterse (Ath Academy) 31:12; 8 Austin van Rooy (Hopetown) 31:21; 9 Angelo Booysen (Cor Ser) 31:34; 10 Lorenzo Zimry (tmp lic) 31:41
Women:
1. Tayla Kavanagh (Hollywood) 32:38; 2. Carina Viljoen (Asics) 32:48; 3. Vicky van der Merwe (Stell Triathlon) 34:45; 4. Carina Swiegers (Boxer) 35:49; 5. Nicola Wills (Boxer) 36:12; 6 Yandiswa Shange (Ath Academy) 36:50; 7 Kirsti Bell (Kovsies) 37:18; 8 Lara Rossouw (Ath Academy) 37:19; 9 Mia Steytler (Retail Capital Langa) 37:45; 10 Betha Sitariko (tmp lic) 37:54
