Ethiopian Mohamed Esa ran the fastest marathon on African soil to win the Cape Town Marathon on Sunday in a course record time of 2hr 04min 55sec.
Compatriot Yihunilign Adane (2:04:59) finished second and Kenyan Kalipus Lomwai (2:05:06) third in personal best times. Double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya (2:13:29) came 16th.
Pelari asal Ethiopia Mohamed Esa memenangkan Cape Town Marathon 2026 kategori Pria. 🇿🇦
Berikut top 5 pemenang kategori pria
1. Mohamed Esa, Ethiopia 🇪🇹 – 2:04:55 (Course Record)
2. Yihunilign Adane, Ethiopia 🇪🇹 – 2:05:59
3. Kalipus Lomwai, Kenya 🇰🇪- 2:05:06
4. Leonard Langat,… pic.twitter.com/zoUnloij3i— マナ-ルル sipalingjogging (@sipalingjogging) May 24, 2026
Esa remained with the leading pack for most of the race before making a decisive break in the closing kilometres.
He eclipsed the previous course record of 2:08:15, set by fellow Ethiopian Abdisa Tola at the 2024 edition.
‘To break the course record is special for me. I thank the organisers for giving me the chance to run on my home continent,’ said Esa.
‘The course was nice, and the crowds gave us a lot of energy during the race. Eliud is my role model, and I respect him deeply. I was proud to race with him in Africa.’
🇪🇹🥇Les athlètes éthiopiens dominent le marathon du Cap, chez les hommes comme chez les femmes
🏃♂️ Course masculine
🥇Huseyidin Mohamed Esa remporte la course en 2:04:55, nouveau record pour un marathon disputé sur le continent africain.
🥈Son compatriote Yihunilign Adane… pic.twitter.com/Eath2Tag74— Sputnik Afrique (@sputnik_afrique) May 24, 2026
Kenyan Sabastian Sawe ran the first sub-two-hour marathon this month, winning the London Marathon in 1:59:30.
Ethiopians dominated the women’s race in Cape Town, filling the top three positions. Winner Dera Dida Yami (2:23:18) was followed by Mestawut Fikir (2:23:46) and Waganesh Mekasha (2:23:57).
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Picture: Screengrab
Words: AFP / African Insider
