Kenya's evergreen runner ready to be part of history in weekend Cape Town Marathon
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 23.05.26. | 07:15
The 46-year-old will be running her first official marathon in Africa outside Kenya on Sunday, 24 May
Kenyan marathoner Edna Kiplagat says being part of Sunday, 24 May’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is her best feeling, given the history the race could write.
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Kiplagat, 46, is among a stacked elite women’s field, which will seek to break the event’s course record of 2:22.22, set by South Africa’s Glenrose Xaba in 2024.
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Of much significance to the two-time World marathon champion, however, is the fact that the race is poised to achieve Abbott World Marathon Major status, with the event currently nearing the end of phase 2 of the candidacy process.
Should that box be checked, then the Cape Town Marathon would become the first Major in Africa, joining a studded list of destinations including: New York, Chicago, London, Sydney, Berlin, Tokyo and Boston.
Speaking during the official marathon press conference on Friday, Kiplagat said: “I am so grateful and happy to be part of the Sanlam Cape Town marathon, which is going to be a world marathon major.
Being part of it is the best feeling for me, because we have been looking forward for this race to be one of the world marathon majors, especially here in Africa.”
In its Major attempt last year, the Cape Town Marathon was dealt a huge blow, after dangerously high winds caused infrastructure and route damage, forcing the race to be canceled on its actual day.
There are higher hopes of getting over that hump this year, with the 32nd edition of the race attracting 27,000 marathon runners, including a field of world-class elite runners, and wheelchair athletes.
Additionally, a further 17,500 runners are expected to take part in the accompanying 10km and 5km Peace Runs, as well as the Cape Town Trail Marathon, 22km and 11km trail runs, which take place on Saturday, 23 May.
In total, a combined field of 44,500 participants will be involved, making the race one of the largest running events on the African continent.
On achieving the global mark, Kiplagat, who has never run an official marathon in Africa outside Kenya, said: “Cape town being the first is going to be a world marathon major is the greatest achievement. It is a milestone; not just to South Africa, but to Africa at large. I am so happy to support, and to make it a success.”
To take the crown on the day, the four-time world marathon major champion will have to fend seven other women to have run under the event course record, including: Kenyan-born Israeli Lonah Salpeter, who is the fastest woman in the field on paper, Ruti Aga, Dera Dida, and Mestawat Fikir.
©Cape Town Marathon“At the beginning when I accepted to come here and race in South Africa, I knew the field was going to be very competitive,” Kiplagat said. “So I prepared myself mentally and physically, knowing that the race here is going to be one of the biggest field assembled, and so I am ready to face the challenges.”