The Cape Town Marathon held on Sunday was a roaring success by all accounts, as it was the fastest-ever 42.2km race held on African soil.
Not only did Huseydin Mohamed Esa (2:04:55) win the title in an exciting finish by four seconds over Yihunilign Adane (2:04:59), both Ethiopians managed a sub-2:05 time. Esa also earned a massive bonus for setting a new race record to take his total earnings for the day to $55,000/R899,210.
In fact, the top six times were all faster than the previous quickest time on African soil, which was 2:06:32. Meanwhile, marathon legend widely considered the Greatest of All Time Eliud Kipchoge finished 16th in 2:13:29.
In the women’s race, Dera Dida Yami took the title in 2:23:18, followed by Mestawut Fikir in 2:23:46 and Waganesh Amare completing the all-Ethiopian podium in 2:23:57. As is standard practice, the women’s finishers receive the same prize money as the men.
Here are the top-10 finishers (prizemoney in brackets, rand amounts based on exchange rate as of Monday):
Men’s top-10:
- Huseydin Mohamed Esa (ETH), 2:04:55 ($35,000/R572,230+$20,000/R326,980 CR)
- Yihunilign Adane (ETH), 2:04:59 ($20,000/R326,980)
- Kalipus Lomwai (KEN), 2:05:06 ($15,000/R245,267)
- Leonard Langat (KEN), 2:05:26 ($10,000/R163,511)
- Jemal Yimer (ETH), 2:05:48 ($8,000/R130,765)
- Mulugeta Uma (ETH), 2:06:19 ($6,000/R98,073)
- Maru Teferi (ISR), 2:06:46 ($5,000/R81,728)
- Abebaw Dessie Muniye (ETH), 2:06:57 ($4,000/R65,387)
- Benard Kipkurui Biwott (KEN), 2:07:34 ($3,000/R49,040)
- Justus Kipkogei Kangogo (KEN), 2:07:42 ($2,000/R32,693)
Women’s top-10:
- Dera Dida Yami (ETH), 2:23:18 ($35,000/R572,230)
- Mestawut Fikir (ETH), 2:23:46 ($20,000/R326,980)
- Waganesh Amare (ETH), 2:23:57 ($15,000/R245,267)
- Leah Cheruto (KEN), 2:24:31 ($10,000/R163,511)
- Edna Kiplagat (KEN), 2:25:44 ($8,000/R130,765)
- Gojjam Enyew (ETH), 2:26:24 ($6,000/R98,073)
- Mercy Jerop Kwambai (KEN), 2:30:36 ($5,000/R81,728)
- Desi Jisa Mokonin (BHR), 2:30:44 ($4,000/R65,387)
- Cynthia Jerotich Limo (KEN), 2:32:00 ($3,000/R49,040)
- Fortunate Chidzivo (ZWE), 2:41:09 ($2,000/R32,693)
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
