Having become a force on South Africa’s roads in recent years, Glenrose Xaba will make her highly anticipated debut next month when she lines up for her first 42.2km race at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
While a strong international field was announced by the organisers on Wednesday, in both the men’s and women’s races, there will be a lot of interest in the local battle between two of South Africa’s top distance runners, Xaba and Cian Oldknow.
Xaba has had a superb season, winning the national 5 000m and 10 000m titles on the track, as well as the SA 10km and half-marathon titles on the road. She also broke the SA 10km record, clocking 31:12 in Durban in July.
And though she will have to deal with a strong international contingent in Cape Town, Xaba will be particularly eager to triumph in what could be a tight battle against compatriot Cian Oldknow.
Having made her own marathon debut earlier this year, Oldknow clocked a remarkable time of 2:25:08 in Seville in February, settling in second place in the all-time SA rankings over the classic distance.
Oldknow went on to win the SA marathon title in Durban before taking 32nd place at the Olympic Games in Paris last month.
Competing against Xaba and a powerful foreign contingent, Oldknow is expected to challenge the national record held by Gerda Steyn (2:24:03) when she lines up in the Mother City.
International entrants
The organisers also unveiled the international field for the Cape Town Marathon on Wednesday, with world-class athletes from across Africa turning out to target the lucrative $25 000 (R450 000) prize on offer for the men’s and women’s winners.
Last year’s winners, Ethiopian athletes Adane Kebede Gebre and Tsige Haileslase, will return in defence of their titles.
Gebre will be joined in the men’s race by the likes of former world champion Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia) and former world record holder Dennis Kimetto (Kenya).
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In the women’s race, aside from Oldknow and Xaba, former world champion Mare Dibaba (Ethiopia) will line up among the favourites.
“This year’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is set to showcase the best marathon elite field ever assembled on African soil,” said race director Barry van Blerk.
“With a prize pool to match, we expect an extraordinary level of competition, and, weather permitting, the course records will undoubtedly be challenged.”
The 2024 Cape Town Marathon will be held on Sunday 20 October.
