CAPE TOWN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Cape Town Marathon produced the fastest marathon ever run on African soil on Sunday, while Kenyan great Eliud Kipchoge launched his seven-continent world tour with a 16th-place finish in his first marathon in Africa.
Ethiopian runners dominated the elite races, sweeping the men's and women's podiums as course records fell in ideal conditions in South Africa's legislative capital, where the event is bidding to become the first African race in the Abbott World Marathon Majors series.
Mohamed Esa won the men's race in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 55 seconds, breaking the previous course record of 2:08:16 set in 2024 and recording the fastest marathon time ever run on African soil. Fellow Ethiopian Yihunilign Adane was second in 2:04:59, while Kenya's Kalipus Lomwai finished third in 2:05:06.
The first 10 men all finished inside the previous course record in what organizers described as the strongest marathon field ever assembled in Africa.
In the women's race, Ethiopia's Dera Dida Yami won in 2:23:18, ahead of compatriots Mestawut Fikir in 2:23:46 and Waganesh Amare in 2:23:57. All three finished inside the previous course record.
Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, finished 16th in 2:13:29 after running conservatively for much of the race.
The 41-year-old is aiming to complete marathons on all seven continents over the next two years in a project dubbed "Eliud's World Tour," which he says is intended to inspire healthier lifestyles and unite people through running.
"Eliud's biggest dream has always been to make this world a running world," a statement on Kipchoge's official website said.
Kipchoge's Cape Town time improved on his 17th-place finish at the New York City Marathon in November last year, where he clocked 2:14:36.
The next stop on his tour is the Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil on July 12, followed by the Melbourne Marathon in Australia on October 11.
The remaining legs of the tour, covering North America, Asia, Europe and Antarctica, have yet to be confirmed. ■