Glenrose Xaba shatters Gerda Steyn's SA marathon record

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There was delight for South Africa as Glenrose Xaba shattered the national and Cape Town Marathon records, on marathon debut, on Sunday, 20 October.

The current South African 5 000m and 10 000m, as well as the 10km road record holder, clocked an impressive time of 2:22:22, to shave 1 minute and 40 seconds off the course record (2 hours, 24 minutes, and 2 seconds) as well as a further second off Gerda Steyn’s previous best marathon time for a South African (2 hours, 24 minutes, and 3 seconds).

Deepest field

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.

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.

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 Cape Town Marathon’s cause in its bid to become an Abbott World Marathon Majors event in the coming years.

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 Cape Town 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, in particular, ensured the pace never eased off.

It was a surprise when the defending champion, Tsige Haileslase, was distanced near the 30km mark.

This was the first sure sign that records would tumble.

Turned for home

Coming into the final 10km 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 4km 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 Cape Town Marathon records comfortably secured.

“I didn’t want to say before the race, but my goal had been the course record,” Xaba smiled.

“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.”

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 really, really, 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.”

“I was feeling really strong and my training had made me very relaxed coming into the race,” Xaba noted.

“From kilometres 5 to 25 I felt good, the first 21km were basically a tempo run for me. Then for a bit until the 33km mark I had to stay strong, focused, and brave because I dropped off the front group slightly. Once I worked my way back, I felt good again and was able to push to the finish.”

“I want to thank my manager, my coaches, and my team at Caster Semenya Training Group!” the 2024 Cape Town Marathon champion concluded.

Final kilometres

Xaba’s margin of victory was 15 seconds over Dibaba Hurssa. Chepkogei was third, 28 seconds off Xaba’s winning time.

Viola Chepngeno and Emmah Cheruto Ndiwa, both of Kenya, completed the top five places.

Oldknow finished 13th, 20 minutes down.

In the men’s race the battle for victory went into the final kilometres too.

It had seemed from early in race that the battle for victory would be fierce, but only a fast second half ensured that the course record was broken.

Having set the previous best men’s time in 2018 Stephen Mokaka was the chief pace maker for the 2024 race.

He took a strong lead group through the first 25km in 1:16:47 before the attacks splintered the field.

South African favourite, Melikhaya Frans was the first to surge as they passed through Observatory.

His move pulled five Ethiopians clear, these included the eventual winner as well as Gaddisa Tafa Dekeba, Mitku Tafa Dekeba, Adeladlew Mamo Gebreyohannes, and Adane Kebede Gebre.

Over the next 5km the men from the mountainous nation worked Frans out of the lead group and then whittled it down to just Mitku Tafa Dekeba, the defending champion Kebede Gebre, and Tola.

“Once we passed the 33km mark I knew the three of us would be battling for victory,” Mitku Tafa Dekeba reflected.

“At that point I was happy it would be an Ethiopian 1, 2, and 3.”

Mitku Tafa Dekeba was the first of the three to suffer as they rounded the final bend and began the headwind slog along Beach Road in Sea Point towards the Green Point finish line.

This left Kebede Gebre and Tola in a two-way tussle for the title.

Striding into the wind the younger Tola brother, whose elder brother Tamirat Tola was crowned Olympic Marathon Champion in Paris, was able to dig deep and surge clear.

With the win secured Tola was able to enjoy the finish line and celebrate his new course record.

Crossing the line in 2:08:16, the 24 year old did enough to shave 15 seconds off Mokaka’s six-year-old benchmark.

Kebede Gebre had to be content with second, 16 seconds back.

Mitku Tafa Dekeba completed the all-Ethiopian podium ahead of Edward Konana Koonyo, of Kenya.

Frans was the first South African home in fifth.

“I earned what I trained really hard for today,” Tola acknowledged.

“A lot of hard work went into this run. It was a beautiful race and I’ll certainly be back to defend my title.”