Why there is hope for Kenyan athletes despite Cape Town Marathon cancellation
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 19.10.25. | 19:26
The registered athletes have been granted sponsored entries for the 2026 and 2027 events regardless of the event passing the World Marathon Majors mark
The Abbott World Marathon Majors leadership says it will work with the Cape Town Marathon team in its bid to join the series, following its latest blip on Sunday, 19 October.
The announcement from Chief Executive Officer Dawna Stone came hours after the 12th edition of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was cancelled early Sunday morning due to infrastructure and route damage caused by dangerously high winds.
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The news, which as per South African outlet IOL was delivered just an hour and a half before the race’s scheduled start time of 6:15 am, followed emergency meetings between the race organising team and the Joint Operations Committee (JOC), which consisted of representatives from the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management and Safety and Security portfolios, as well as medical services and the South African Police Services.
It is reported that both the route and start/finish venue were deemed unsafe for runners and spectators, and the organisers took the bitter pill of doing away with this year's event.
If the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon had gone ahead and people got injured or worse, lives lost, the conversation would’ve been, “The winds were so strong,why didn’t they cancel? They knew it was dangerous to race in such weather”. It’s such a difficult position to be in.
— Juanita K. Khumalo (@JuanitaKhumalo) October 19, 2025
The catch, however, was that the race’s bid to become Africa’s first World Marathon Major took a hit, as Sunday’s event was their second chance to attain the standard.
Having successfully completed the first assessment phase in 2024, organisers were working to meet a 104-point criterion that focused on operational excellence and participant experience.
Responding to the cancellation of the race, Stone, on behalf of Abbott World Marathon Majors, said: “Everyone is saddened by the news of the cancellation of the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon due to severe overnight winds.
The race was set to pursue its second consecutive evaluation in its candidacy to become a marathon major. We will be working with the Cape Town team soon to obtain more information and discuss the next course of action.”
The 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has been cancelled due to high winds and unsafe race conditions.
— Abbott World Marathon Majors (@WMMajors) October 19, 2025
The safety of runners, volunteers, and spectators is always the top priority.
Sending our support to all runners, volunteers, and the incredible Cape Town team today. pic.twitter.com/fUYqDrGPtR
Despite runners having signed non-refundable documents, Sanlam Group announced that all 2025 marathon entrants would be eligible for a sponsored entry for 2026 or 2027 event, regardless of whether it got the nod from the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
On Wednesday, 15 October, Kenya flagged off a team of eight athletes to take part in the race, including: Lilian Jepkorir Chebii, Vincent Kipyegon Ronoh, Josephat Kipkoech, Edwin Kiptoo, Fridah Chepkite Lodepa, Flomena Chepkiach Ngurasia, Godfrey Musanga and Japhet Kiptoo Kiplagat.
