There was delight for South Africa as Glenrose Xaba shattered the national and Cape Town Marathon records, on her marathon debut this past weekend.

The current South African 5 000 and 10 000 metre, as well as the 10-kilometre road record holder, clocked an impressive time of 02:22;22 to shave one minute and 40 seconds off the course record (02:24;02) as well as a further second off Gerda Steyn’s previous best marathon time for a South African, which was 02:24;03.

Xaba was joined on the start line by 16 800 fellow starters as well as the deepest ever field assembled for a marathon on African soil.

Meanwhile the 2024 men’s champion, Abdisa Tola also broke the course record – though his impressive feat was somewhat overshadowed by the South African Air Force Gripen fly over which Xaba’s performance received.

Sadly, the Cape Doctor, as the Mother City’s prevailing summer south easterly wind is known, did not get the memo. The rest of the city pulled together though and the crowds countered the winds with raucous cheers along the route. Their applause, the support of the City of Cape Town local government, and the new record times will all aid the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s cause in its bid to become an Abbott World Marathon Majors event in the coming years.

Flying through Seapoint- SA Glenrose Xaba @OfficialTeamRSA wins the @CTMarathon in a womens record time! Smashes it! Abdisa Tola Adera takes the mens win. #GlenroseXaba #SanlamCapeTownMarathon pic.twitter.com/VrkFwdwiC1

— Deon Bing (@deon_bing) October 20, 2024

The goal of Abbott World Marathon Majors status, in 2026, may still be on the horizon but Xaba’s dreams came true on the blue carpet in the shadow of the DHL Stadium.

She and her fellow elite women had started fast, with the pace setters maintaining a tempo better than the record pace. Fellow South African pre-race favourite, Cian Oldknow, opted not to go with the pace makers and was out of contention for a podium place early in the piece.

One by one the women dropped from the group, but Xaba and Mare Dibaba Hurssa ensured the pace never eased off. It was a surprise when the defending champion, Tsige Haileslase, was distanced near the 30-kilometre mark. This was the first sure sign that records would tumble.

Coming into the final 10 kilometres only Kenyna’s Pascalia Chepkogei remained in contention with the South African and the 2015 World Marathon Champion.

After stretching their legs on the downwind gallop through Sea Point the top three turned for home with four kilometres to go. This U-turn meant they would run the closing kilometres into a headwind, which suited the powerful style of Xaba. She distanced Chepkogei and finally Dibaba Hurssa, to enter the finishing straight alone.

Soaking up the applause, Xaba crossed the line with both the South African and Sanlam Cape Town Marathon records comfortably secured.

“I didn’t want to say before the race, but my goal had been the course record. I didn’t want to put extra pressure on myself. Even if I had finished in 2:26 I would have been happy, because this was my first marathon. But I’m honestly shocked to have broken the course and national record. I’m humbled to have taken Gerda [Steyn]’s South African record,” Xaba said with a big smile afterwards.

Reflecting not only upon her rival’s stellar debut but also on Ruth Chepngetich’s World record-breaking run-in Chicago the week before, Dibaba Hurssa said the women’s marathon is getting fast.

“I hope that this generation will keep setting faster times and that the generation to come are inspired by them to run even quicker,” Hurssa remarked.

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