Sanlam Cape Town Marathon passes stage 1 in Abbott World Marathon Majors candidacy

This achievement reflects the unwavering support of the Cape Town residents, South Africa’s entire marathon running community and the race’s collective efforts to elevate its global standing. The #YouDoCount campaign, which brought together 20,000 marathon runners, played a pivotal role, as did the outstanding cooperation and sacrifice from Cape Town residents in ensuring clear roads with no parked cars on the marathon route on race day. The 2024 event also celebrated a world-class elite field, featuring 10 Gold Label status athletes, and witnessed historic performances, including course records in both the men’s and women’s races and the setting of a new South African marathon record 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.”

Building Towards Stage 2

The road to becoming a Marathon Major continues, with the Stage 2 evaluation set for October 2025. Meeting the 104-point criteria requires excellence across every aspect of the marathon, from operational standards to participant experience. A key focus for 2025 will be elevating the elite field to include 4 Platinum Label athletes and 6 Gold Label athletes and managing all aspects of crowd flow as the participant numbers continue to grow. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will continue to rely on its sponsors, partners, and the City of Cape Town to assist in reaching this next milestone.

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.”

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis shared his pride in Cape Town’s achievement: “We are delighted at the news that our Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has successfully cleared the first hurdle towards becoming a World Marathon Major. Thanks to a huge effort from the race organisers in last month’s marathon, as well as the wonderful cooperation from Capetonians to help ensure that roads remained clear, we were able to show the world what a great marathon we can present here. I have no doubt that we will repeat this feat at the next stage of adjudication during the 2025 race.”

Cape Town on the World Stage

The announcement of the TCS Sydney Marathon as the seventh Major in 2024 has further energized Cape Town’s pursuit of joining the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors. With a successful Stage 2 evaluation in 2025, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon aims to become a Major by 2026, standing alongside other global icons, including the TCS Sydney Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, the TCS London Marathon, the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the TCS New York City Marathon.

As the marathon continues to shine on the world stage, Kate Woods, Senior Brand Director of adidas South Africa, reflected on their contribution: “As the technical sponsor of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, adidas is proud to support an exceptional elite field, which is one of the main criteria to Major status. Abdisa Tola's record-breaking performance this year showcased incredible talent and determination as well as the latest innovation in adidas running footwear. We are not stopping at the elites, we are on a mission to encourage everyone to come and 'Run for Africa' and provide access to the latest footwear technology. We are honoured to play a pivotal role in supporting all athletes and cementing Cape Town's status as a Global running destination."

The introduction of the Nine Star Medal, celebrating all future AbbottWMM races, is on the horizon. Cape Town is poised to be a cornerstone of this new era, potentially sharing the spotlight with the Shanghai Marathon, which begins its candidacy later this year. Together, Cape Town and Shanghai could complete the journey to the Nine Star era as early as 2027.

A Celebration of Collective Effort

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s achievements in 2024 are a testament to the event’s dedication to excellence and understanding the magnitude of their responsibility in bringing Africa her first Major of any kind. From seamless race operations to the vibrant atmosphere created by participants and supporters, the marathon has proven its readiness to take its place among the world’s best.

With Stage 1 complete, the journey continues—a journey not just for Cape Town but for the entire African continent. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon invites everyone to join in celebrating this achievement and supporting the next steps toward making history in 2026.

Cape Town is ready. Africa is ready. Let’s make history together as we strive to become Africa’s 1st Major.