CAPE TOWN, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Two Oceans Marathon took place on Saturday and Sunday in South Africa's Cape Town after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
South Africa's Gerda Steyn won the women's race for the third consecutive time in Sunday morning's 56km ultra marathon, in three hours 29 minutes and 42 seconds, while Ethiopia's Edndale Belachew became the new men's champion in 3:09:05.
Ahead of the ultra marathon, a 21.1km half marathon took place on Saturday. The event's traditional fun runs for runners and walkers of all ages and the 5.6km friendship run for international entrants were not scheduled this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Scenic trail runs were also not held this weekend, while organizers announced plans to hold the inaugural Two Oceans Marathon Trail Run Series in various locations later this year.
The Two Oceans Marathon, which started in 1970, is said to be the world's most beautiful marathon with the ultra marathon taking athletes on a spectacular course around the Cape Peninsula.
Organizers said the event is Africa's biggest running event by economic impact, contributing 672 million South African rand (some 46 million U.S. dollars) annually to the local economy. ■
