Sanlam Cape Town Marathon: Stage 1 In Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidacy Is Achieved

Highlights to look forward to and celebrate based on this news:

• It’s A Collaborative Triumph For Africa
• Stage 2 Of The Evaluation Is Scheduled For October 2025
• A Nine-Star Medal Is Now Within Reach

Africa Marathons is so proud to announce that The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has successfully completed Stage 1 in the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) candidacy process, marking this a significant step towards becoming Africa’s first Major marathon. We celebrate this achievement with them.

The #YouDoCount campaign, which united 20,000 marathon runners, played a crucial role, alongside the exceptional cooperation and sacrifice from Cape Town residents in ensuring clear roads free of parked cars on race day. The 2024 event showcased a world-class elite field, featuring 10 Gold Label athletes, and witnessed remarkable performances, including course records in both the men’s and women’s races and a new South African marathon record set by Glenrose Xaba in 2:22:22.

Shadi Chauke, Group Executive: Market Development and Sustainability at Sanlam – the event’s title sponsor – highlighted the significance of this milestone: “This milestone is a testament to Africa’s immense potential and collective strength. We are deeply committed to inspiring Africans to live with confidence, and this race embodies that spirit. Together with all the partners, we’ve created more than just a marathon; we’ve built a platform to drive economic growth, uplift communities, and showcase the unmatched talent and potential of Africa and her people.”

Preparing for Stage 2

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s quest to become an Abbott World Marathon Major is ongoing, with the crucial Stage 2 evaluation scheduled for October 2025. To succeed, the marathon must meet stringent criteria encompassing 104 points across all facets of the event, including operational excellence and delivering an exceptional participant experience.

In preparation for 2025, the marathon organizers are prioritizing two key areas:

• Enhancing the Elite Field: Attracting a higher calibre of elite runners, specifically 4 Platinum Label athletes and 6 Gold Label athletes, is essential.
• Crowd Management: As participation grows, effective management of crowd flow will be critical to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

Achieving this next milestone will require continued collaboration and support from sponsors, partners, and the City of Cape Town.

Clark Gardner, CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, stated, “Our success in Stage 1 showcases the power of collaboration. From sponsors, service providers, participants to residents, our city demonstrated what can be achieved when we come together with a shared vision. Now, we set our sights on Stage 2, with the goal of not just meeting but exceeding all expectations.”

Cape Town’s Global Aspirations

The recent addition of the TCS Sydney Marathon as the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major has further ignited Cape Town’s determination to join this elite group. A successful Stage 2 evaluation in 2025 would pave the way for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon to achieve Major status by 2026. This would place it amongst the world’s most prestigious marathons, including:

• TCS Sydney Marathon
• Tokyo Marathon
• Boston Marathon, presented by Bank of America
• TCS London Marathon
• BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
• Bank of America Chicago Marathon
• TCS New York City Marathon

The Abbott World Marathon Majors are introducing a new Nine Star Medal, awarded to runners who complete all nine races in the series. Cape Town is positioned to play a key role in this exciting development, potentially joining the Majors alongside the Shanghai Marathon, which begins its candidacy process later this year. If both cities are successful, the Nine Star era could begin as early as 2027.

Celebrating Collective Success

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s success in 2024 demonstrates its dedication to achieving the highest standards and its understanding of the historic opportunity to bring the first Major marathon to Africa. From flawlessly executed operations to the electric atmosphere generated by runners and spectators, the event has proven it belongs among the world’s leading marathons.

Having successfully completed Stage 1, the journey towards becoming an Abbott World Marathon Major continues. This is a journey not only for Cape Town but for all of Africa. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon invites everyone to celebrate this milestone and support the marathon as it strives to make history in 2026.

Cape Town is ready.
Africa is ready.
Team Africa Marathons is ready to help you achieve the dream of participating in Africa’s first Major.

Want to enter the Cape Town Marathon 2025?

Let Africa Marathons organise your trip and race for the iconic Cape Town Marathon 2025. To find out more about the race and to become part of Team Africa Marathons, please send us an email at [email protected]. You can also contact us using the button below to join.