Ethiopian runners secured victories in both elite divisions at the 2026 Cape Town Marathon on Sunday, May 24.
Huseydin Mohamed Esa shattered the men's course record by over three minutes.
About 27,000 participants competed in the South African capital city.
Organizers continue pushing for the event to become the first African race to join the Abbott World Marathon Majors series.
The race advanced to its final candidacy phase this year. High winds forced organizers to cancel the previous edition 90 minutes before its scheduled start.
Men's Race: Esa's Breakthrough Victory
Esa finished the race in 2:04:55 to secure his first career marathon victory.
He led an elite field that included 13 men and eight women who had previously run faster than the course records.
The victory occurred just over a month after Esa was unable to finish the Boston Marathon.
He had prior runner-up placements in Tokyo in 2023, as well as Boston and Chicago in 2024.
Yihunilign Adane placed second in 2:04:59.
Kenya's Kalipus Lomwai took third in 2:05:06 after forming a four-man leading pack with Leonard Langat at the 35-kilometer mark.
Esa launched a final surge at the 40-kilometer mark to separate himself from the leading group.
"To win my first marathon here in Africa, on home ground, and in a course-record time makes this victory very special to me," said Esa.
Women's Race: Ethiopian Podium Sweep
In the women's division, Dera Dida Yami led an Ethiopian podium sweep by finishing in 2:23:18.
Mestawut Fikir followed in 2:23:46, and Waganesh Mekasha Amare completed the sweep in 2:23:57.
The lead pack passed the halfway point in 1:12:33 with six athletes remaining together. Dida accelerated away during the final kilometers to secure the win.
The event also served as the opening stop for Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge's World Tour.
The initiative aims to complete seven marathons across seven continents over the next three years.
The project aims to raise over 1 million dollars for education and environmental initiatives through the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation.
It is supported by a virtual challenge launched by the dsm-firmenich Running Team.
Kipchoge completed the race in 2:13:29 while running alongside his wife, Grace Sugut Kipchoge, who made her competitive marathon debut.
"Cape Town, this was a special day," said Kipchoge.
The former world record holder expressed gratitude toward the spectators and participants.
"Today was a celebration of running on this beautiful course, supported by thousands of incredible fans singing and making music along the route," said Kipchoge.
The multi-continent campaign will move next to South America for its second competitive appearance.
The next stop is scheduled at the Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil on July 12, 2026.
South African veteran Stephen Mokoka competed in the colors of the Hollywood Athletics Club.
He focused on a sub-2:10 finish time to aid his bid for a fifth Olympic selection, eventually placing 13th in 2:10:48.
Mokoka sought redemption after finishing second by six seconds in a previous edition.
"The aim this time around is just to get under 2:10, to bring the motivation back," said Mokoka.
The 40-year-old runner stated that his primary career motivation remains achieving a historic milestone. "My aim is to try and qualify for my final Olympics," said Mokoka.
Mokoka noted the cultural significance of Kipchoge's presence in South Africa. "Everyone wants to have a guy like Eliud because he's a global superstar," said Mokoka.
