CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – A historic milestone was reached in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon yesterday as many elite distance runners participated in the race event, making this one of the most historic races in African athletics. It marked the launch of Eliud Kipchoge’s highly anticipated worldwide marathon journey.
Videos from the marathon show the two-time Olympic champion, aged 41, warming up with the other elites before crossing the start line. Crowds of supporters lined the city’s streets, holding up flags and signs to cheer them on.
The marathon held particular significance for South Africa because it was being assessed as the first African marathon to be added to the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors Series. In attendance at the event were Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and the tournament organisers. Creator of the tournament, Francois Pienaar, was quietly confident that Cape Town had succeeded in becoming a world major marathon.
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