Mohamed Esa Wins the Cape Town Marathon 2026 With a Course Record (2:04:55)

Date of publication: May 24, 2026

Mohamed Esa Wins the Cape Town Marathon 2026 With a Course Record (2:04:55)

The 2026 Cape Town Marathon delivered a performance unlike anything previously seen on African soil. From the opening kilometers, the pace set by the leading group indicated that the course record was in serious danger. Among the athletes drawing the most attention was Eliud Kipchoge, who stayed with the main pack for the first 10 kilometers before gradually losing contact with the leaders.

At the front, the race was controlled by South African pacemakers Adriaan Wildschutt and Adam Lipschitz. They maintained a steady, fast rhythm, and Wildschutt — known for his national half marathon record (59:13) — looked relaxed and confident. Around the 27 km mark, he launched a solo move that gave him a noticeable gap. By the time he reached the 30 km point, where his pacing duties ended, he still held a lead of roughly 20 seconds. Without access to his own bottles beyond that point, he was unable to continue and stepped off the course.

Once the breakaway was neutralized, a group of seven runners formed at the front, with Kalipus Lomwai and Leonard Langat among the most active.

During the middle stages of the race, the pace shifted depending on who was leading. Several athletes tested the group with short surges, but every attempt was quickly covered. It became clear that the decisive moves would come only in the final kilometers, as no one was willing to commit too early.

The Final Battle and Historic Results

With two kilometers to go, Esa launched his attack. Adane tried to stay with him, while Lomwai — despite the earlier “boost” from an unofficial refreshment point — began to fade. The final stretch belonged entirely to the Ethiopian, who powered away to set a new course record.

Mohamed Esa claimed victory in 2:04:55. He was followed by Yihunilign Adane (2:04:59) and Kalipus Lomwai (2:05:06). All three ran faster than the previous course record from 2024 (2:08:16). Ten athletes broke the 2:08 barrier, making this the fastest marathon ever run on African soil. Eliud Kipchoge finished 16th in 2:13:29.

Cape Town Marathon 2026 Results – Men

Place	Athlete	Country	Time
1	Huseyidin Mohamed Esa	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	2:04:55
2	Yihunilign Adane	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	2:04:59
3	Kalipus Lomwai	🇰🇪 Kenya	2:05:06
4	Leonard Langat	🇰🇪 Kenya	2:05:26
5	Jemal Yimer	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	2:05:48
6	Mulugeta Uma	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	2:06:19