South Africa's Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will make its debut as an Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidate Race – and official AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group Qualifying Event - on October 16, 2022.
The event was officially named as a candidate race in August 2021, becoming the first marathon on the continent of Africa to join the multi-year assessment process.
In 2021, this flat and fast marathon was the first road race, and second mass participation event, to return to the roads in the second half of the year after the world went into lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event saw a limited field of local, African and international runners celebrating the return of in-person sporting events in South Africa, with the home nation’s Stephen Mokoka taking the win and Kenyan Lydia Simiyu stunning a quality field to smash the course record in her debut marathon.
CEO Barry van Blerk said: “Planning is already underway to welcome even more local and international runners to the Mother City in 2022. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon usually attracts thousands of runners from over 80 countries, and we expect that the event’s AbbottWMM candidacy and Age Group Qualifier status will prompt increased interest to run the event and enjoy the sights and sounds of one of the most spirited countries in the world.”
There is certainly plenty to attract runners to run in this multi-cultural city perched on the southern tip of Africa. There’s the awe-inspiring Table Mountain – one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature – and the route also passes some of the city’s other iconic, historic landmarks. Outside of the race itself, van Blerk also stresses just how much is on offer for runners visiting the city.
“The Mother City is an affordable and holiday destination with something for the whole family,” he says.
“Whether you are looking to visit a bustling international attraction like the V&A Waterfront, enjoy a variety of multicultural dining experiences, sample award-winning wines at one of the many estates nearby, spend the day out in nature or soak up the sun on one of our many beaches, everything is easily located and a short drive away.”
The race has already produced a number of qualified athletes for the 2022 AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships and, in 2022, organizers are also offering international participants a guaranteed entry to the event should it ultimately become Abbott World Marathon Majors race.
To enter and for more information, visit capetownmarathon.com
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