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.
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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.
