Time for Africa to officially have its Abbott Major has come

It already goes by the nickname “Africa’s Major”, and the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s bid to be counted among the world’s main marathons is gaining momentum after what organisers say was another giant step towards that goal following this year’s event two weeks ago.

Cape Town was officially put under probation last year when the Abbott World Marathon Majors confirmed it was a candidate to join the elite list. This led to a changed route to meet some of the criteria, and there were further alterations this year which, for instance, saw overall route elevation reduced.

A decision on whether the Mother City joins London, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, New York and Tokyo among the world’s majors is not expected before next year’s race, but organisers are convinced a second year of being under the microscope from Abbott authorities has borne fruit.

“As event organisers we have had access to Abbott Majors race directors and their associated organisers,” said Clark Gardner, CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.     

“Learnings include our understanding of what it takes to be one of the best marathons in the world. The size of the participant base is of vital importance. More runners participating means more numbers physically spectating and screen spectating. The participants and spectators then create the environment, camaraderie and spirit that makes marathon running so special.”

One of the criteria required to meet to be declared an Abbott major is the ability to attract a field of top runners, hence the appearance of two-time Comrades Marathon winner Tete Dijana at this year’s event. He finished 10th – becoming the only other South African in the men top 10 after runner-up Stephen Mokoka, who lost out to Ethiopian Adane Kebede Gebre.

Gusty and sweltering weather conditions in the October 15 event which began and finished in the Greenpoint precinct were some of the challenges runners faced this year, but Gardner said this should not have any bearing on the Abbott decision.

“Adverse weather conditions can affect the event indirectly in that we need fast times to attract a quality elite field. On our ability to attract a quality elite field, which is a function of a fast course and big appearance fee budgets – both of which we improved upon in 2023, by making the route flatter and therefore faster, and doubling our elite appearance fees.

"We do hope we can circumvent some of these challenges around fast elites next year, by attracting fast debutants and others who want to run on African soil with less time and travel complications. Weather, on its own, is not a factor in deciding whether we qualify or not.”

Cape Town is also banking on Africa producing the world’s best endurance runners to sway Abbott decision makers, reasoning the continent can no longer be overlooked while no other continent produces long-distance champions.

“We take confidence in the fact that the Abbott World Marathon Majors needs an African Major. They cannot ignore the fact that 85% plus of the world’s top 50 elite runners all come from Africa, and yet they are not represented on the African continent,” Gardner said.

Kenyan Eluid Kipchoge won the Berlin Marathon this year, while compatriot Kelvin Kiptum set a new world record of 2:00:05 in Chicago following his victory in London earlier in the year. Ethiopian Deso Gelmisa won in Tokyo in March, and Kenyan Evans Chebet claimed gold in Boston. The New York marathon will be staged on November 5, but Chebet was the winner last year.

Indeed, the time for Africa to officially have its Abbott Major has come.