Mohamed Essa set a record by winning the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, while Eliud Kipchoge completes the first marathon of his world tour.
dsm-firmenich Running Team’s Mohamed Essa obliterated the course record in 2:04:55 to take an emphatic victory at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
Competing just a month after his Boston Marathon attempt, the Ethiopian responded perfectly with a commanding performance.
A three-time Abbott World Marathon Majors podium finisher, Esa coolly handled the pressure of pre-race favouritism. He crossed the halfway point in 62:49 and, entering the closing 5km, closed in on a four-man battle for the win.
At the 40km mark, Essa made his decisive move to climb to the front as his rivals gradually pulled away. He crossed the line four seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Yihunilig Adan, taking the first marathon victory of his career. The third place was taken by Kenyan Kalipus Lomwai with 2:05:06.
“Winning my first marathon here in Africa, on home soil and in a record time, makes this victory very special for me.”
Meanwhile, running legend Eliud Kipchoge completed the first marathon of his World Tour, which spanned seven marathons on seven continents over the next three years, as he finished 16th in 2:13:29.
“Cape Town, it was a special day,” Kipchoge said after crossing the line. “Today was a celebration of running along this beautiful route, supported by thousands of incredible fans singing and making music along the route and runners sharing the same race. You all made our first stop on a tour we will never forget. I am proud that we started our world tour in Africa and ran my first marathon on home soil. It was perfect.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Dera Dida won in 2:23:18, while fellow Ethiopians Mestavut Fikir and Vaganesh Amare finished second and third in 2:23:46 and 2:23:57, respectively.
