South Africa celebrated as Glenrose Xaba delivered a stellar marathon debut at the 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, smashing both the national and course records. On Sunday, 20 October, the current South African 5,000m, 10,000m, and 10km road record holder crossed the finish line in an awe-inspiring 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 22 seconds. Her performance broke Gerda Steyn’s South African marathon record by one second and obliterated the course record by a staggering 1 minute and 40 seconds.
Xaba, known for her speed on the track, surprised many by handling the 42.2km distance with grace and determination. Despite the challenging Cape Doctor winds, she pushed through with strength in the final kilometres, sealing her place in South African marathon history.
The men’s race saw Ethiopia’s Abdisa Tola break the course record with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds, overshadowed only slightly by the excitement surrounding Xaba’s record-breaking achievement. The marathon’s success, marked by these incredible feats, strengthens its bid to become an Abbott World Marathon Majors event.
With over 16,800 runners on the start line and a supportive crowd braving the wind, this year’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was a celebration of endurance, national pride, and the growing speed of women’s marathon running globally. Xaba’s achievement is a testament to her talent and hard work, setting the stage for more extraordinary performances in the future.
2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Results
Men’s Results
1. Abdisa Tola (2:08:16)
2. Adane Kebede Gebre (2:08:32 | +16)
3. Mitku Tafa Dekeba (2:10:10 | +1:54)
4. Edward Konana Koonyo (2:11:24 | +3:08)
5. Melikhaya Frans (2:12:18 | +4:02)
Women’s Results
1. Glenrose Xaba (2:22:22)
2. Mare Dibaba Hurssa (2:22:36 | +15)
3. Pascalia Chepkogei (2:22:49 | +28)
4. Viola Chepngeno (2:23:23 | +1:02)
5. Emmah Cheruto Ndiwa (2:25:14 | +2:53)
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