The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 2018 proved to be another stellar local event,spectators came out in droves to cheer on world’s elite athletes, club and non-club runners, casual joggers, social runners and walkers. The weather showed up for the crowds and athletes alike – South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka took full advantage of those conditions to destroy arguably the best field yet assembled at Africa’s only IAAF Gold Label Marathon.
Mokoka stuck with the pacemakers like glue until the first pacemaker dropped out at halfway with the second pacemaker pulling off at the 30km mark, before breaking away from Kenya’s Philemon Kacherian at 33km. From there the 33-year-old took control of the race and forged ahead. “I felt good and decided to go, but I only relaxed and knew I had won the race when I hit the mat at the finish. You know in a marathon it is never over until it is over,” he Mokoka.
Lesiba Precious Mashele is rapidly making a name for himself as the leading ‘short distance’ road runner in South Africa after destroying a field that included the likes of hometown favourite Jeromy Andreas and Tumisang Monnatlala to win the 2018 10km PEACE Run/ Walk at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, clocking 29:10:00.
Various bits of the marathon. We both had to dig deep…for different reasons! The support en route was amazing! A respectable time of 3:39. Nic De Beer Renata Schoeman Goldilocks and The Bear #mentalhealth #children #ADHD Sanlam Cape Town Marathon pic.twitter.com/nO8XMC61L9
— Renata Schoeman (@RenataSchoeman) September 23, 2018
Today I ran {with} the @sanlam @ctmarathon. It was intensive, but fully worth it.
Shout out to all the runners & to the supporters that brought all the gees! Evens the Klopse was soma there! #SCTM2018 #SCTMGees pic.twitter.com/On3KzubHtV— Yaaseen Barnes (@Ya_a_seen_Him) September 23, 2018
It’s working. @sanlam @CTMarathon #SCTMGEES pic.twitter.com/iY1eOGSDIs
— Angel Campey (@YesReallyAngel) September 23, 2018
My #SCTMGees pic.twitter.com/8HD35Aah7c
— Xolelwa Mzili (@XolieMz) September 23, 2018
@Sport_TUT would like to congratulate @mokoka_stephen for winning the Sanlam @CTMarathon this morning. The marathon is the on only IAAF Gold Label event in Africa. @Official_TUT @TshwaneFM pic.twitter.com/UG5lbGhaJc
— RiseAsOne (@Sport_TUT) September 23, 2018
@Heart1049FM @sanlam @CTMarathon #ctmarathon2018 #CTmarathon my boys bringing the gees to marathon day pic.twitter.com/qVxZYotjgG
— shaun henry (@shaunhenry8) September 23, 2018
Catching the gees @Sanlam @CTMarathon #SCTMGees #ctmarathon2018 pic.twitter.com/t459mogaol
— Anel Potgieter (@Anelp) September 23, 2018
The route, which is mostly flat, started in Fritz Sonnenberg Road in Green Point and finished in Vlei Road outside the iconic Cape Town stadium. The fastest route where times clocked this morning, as the first ten of approximately 8,000 runners dipped under 31 minutes for one of the deepest finishes yet.