A strong elite field has been announced for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon to be held in the Mother City on Sunday.
Six men in the line-up have run under 2:06:00 and five women in the field have gone under 2:20:00, suggesting the race records set by Abdisa Tola (2:08:15) and Glenrose Xaba (2:22:22) last year will both be in danger.
Aside from a long list of international stars, the entries also include some of South Africa’s top long-distance runners who will be hoping to challenge the foreign contenders.
The men’s field features Elroy Gelant, who set a national record of 2:05:36 in Hamburg earlier this year, as well as Stephen Mokoka, Adam Lipschitz, Desmond Mokgobu, Thabang Mosiako and Melikhaya Frans, who have all run under 2:10:00 in their careers.
The top SA woman in the race is former national record holder Gerda Steyn, who set her personal best of 2:24:03 in Valencia in 2023.
Elite men’s field
Ronald Korir, Kenya (2:04:22, Berlin 2023)
Bethwell Chumba Kibet, Kenya (2:04:37, Amsterdam 2023)
Othmane El Goumri, Morocco (2:05:12, Barcelona 2023)
Elroy Gelant, South Africa (2:05:36, Hamburg 2025)
Asefa Boki Kebede, Ethiopia (2:05:40, Amsterdam 2024)
Justus Kangogo, Kenya (2:05:57, Berlin 2023)
Luke Kiprop, Kenya (2:06:39, Berlin 2024)
Stephen Mokoka, South Africa (2:06:42, Osaka 2023)
Isaac Mpofu, Zimbabwe (2:06:48, Boston 2022)
Hendrick Pfeiffer, Germany (2:07:14, Houston 2024)
Vincent Kipyegon Ronoh, Kenya (2:08:32, Eindhoven 2025)
Shadrack Kipkemboi Kebenei, Kenya (2:08:45, Ho Chi Min 2023)
Adam Lipschitz, South Africa (2:08:54, Valencia 2024)
Desmond Mokgobu, South Africa (2:09:13, Valencia 2020)
Thabang Mosiako, South Africa (2:09:14, Abu Dhabi 2024)
Melikhaya Frans, South Africa (2:09:24, Eugene 2022)
Josphat Bett Kipkoech, Kenya (2:10:01, Nairobi 2024)
Dagnachew Adere Maru, Ethiopia (2:10:21, Daegu 2023)
Ashenafi Negese, Ethiopia (2:10:38, Madrid 2025)
Moses Njoroge, Kenya (2:11:06, Nairobi 2025)
Tumelo Motlagale, South Africa (2:11:15, Durban 2022)
Jeremia Shaliaxwe, Namibia (2:12:36, Durban 2024)
Samson Keiyo, Kenya (2:12:52, Ravenna 2024)
Milton Kekana, South Africa (2:13:14, Durban 2024)
Dennis Kipkosgei, Kenya (2:13:54, Madrid 2024)
Raydon Balie, South Africa (2:15:58, Durban 2024)
Thabang Mathebula, South Africa (2:17:06, Durban 2025)
Tukiso Motlomelo, Lesotho (2:17:10, Cape Town 2024)
Lekhotla Pulinyana (South Africa) 2:18:58 (Pietermaritzburg, 2025)
Diriba Situm, Ethiopia (2:19:11, Dubai 2024)
George Kusche, South Africa (2:20:12, Cape Town 2024)
Marko Bucarizza, South Africa (2:23:14, Eindhoven 2023)
Xolisa Ndlumbini, South Africa (2:25:43, Cape Town 2021)
Khaya Gqwetha, South Africa (2:31:03, Cape Town 2021)
Paul Chirchir, Kenya (2:32:23, Kuala Lumpur 2019)
Kamohelo Mofolo, Lesotho (debut)
Elite women’s field
Winfridah Moseti, Kenya (2:16:56, Tokyo 2025)
Angela Tanui, Kenya (2:17:57, Amsterdam 2021)
Meseret Belete, Ethiopia (2:18:21, Amsterdam 2023)
Meseret Abebayehu, Ethiopia (2:19:50, Amsterdam 2023)
Mare Dibaba, Ethiopia (2:19:52, Dubai 2012)
Amid Fozya Jemal, Ethiopia (2:21:53, Dubai 2024)
Meseret Gebre, Ethiopia (2:23:11, Barcelona 2022)
Joan Amani Mursi Kipyatich, Kenya (2:23:45, Doha 2024)
Mercy Kwambai, Kenya (2:23:58, Xiamen 2025)
Gerda Steyn, South Africa (2:24:03, Valencia 2023)
Netsanet Gudeta, Ethiopia (2:25:16, Prague 2025)
Rachael Chebet, Uganda (2:26:10, Rotterdam 2025)
Selam Fente, Ethiopia (2:28:22, Rome 2025)
Almenesh Herpu, Ethiopia (2:28:50, Dubai 2025)
Emane Seifu, Ethiopia (2:30:14, Buenos Aires 2025)
Stella Marais, South Africa (2:38:22, Cape Town 2022)
Carla Molinaro, Great Britain (2:38:35, Valencia 2024)
* Featured image of elite men participating in the Cape Town Marathon by Mark Sampson
