Defending Cape Town Marathon champion, Stephen Mokoka, retained his title in an outstanding run through the city.
The 37-year-old crossed the line in 2:09:54, setting a benchmark on the new route.
“It was a tough course,” Mokoka admitted. “The first 10km were particularly difficult so I’m thrilled to have finished in front of the field.”
While organisers are hopeful about the Cape Town Marathon’s inclusion as the seventh race in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the 2022 champion said that he was looking forward to some time off while remaining confident that his best races lie in wait.
“I just want to run faster,” he added. “Maybe a 2:06.”
“For now, I’m just going to take it easy.”
Read: Cape Town Marathon in the running to join World Marathon Majors
South Africa’s competitors did well in both the wheelchair and men’s events but the women’s race was dominated by international runners.
None more so than Ethiopia’s Meseret Dinke Meleka, who set a blistering pace to run unaccompanied for much of the event, smashing the course record in the process.
“The race was really nice,” said the ladies’ champion. “Unfortunately I had to do it by myself because there was nobody running next to me.”
“It’s really difficult running alone. It definitely would have been easier if there were pace runners.”
“When you run alone, it’s so difficult to watch your pacing and to plan but I guess I managed.”
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Pike wins inaugural Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Wheelchair Race
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