Kenyan distance royalty Eliud Kipchoge and Edna Kiplagat are set to spearhead the country’s assault at the Cape Town Marathon on May 24, bringing pedigree, experience and star power to the streets of South Africa.

The two distance legends boast glittering resumes over the classic 42km, firmly cementing their status among the finest marathoners the nation has ever produced.

Kipchoge underlined his excitement ahead of a historic outing, his first-ever marathon on African soil. “It is truly special for me to run my first-ever marathon on African soil. I am excited to experience this event for the first time,” Kipchoge said.

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Kipchoge arrives in Cape Town with a resume that reads like a chronicle of marathon greatness. He is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, conquering Rio de Janeiro in 2016 (2:08:44) and Tokyo in 2020 (2:08:38), and remains the most decorated athlete on the Abbott World Marathon Majors circuit with an astonishing 11 victories.

His dominance in Berlin is the stuff of legend, boasting five titles from 2015 (2:04:00), 2017 (2:03:32), 2018 (2:01:39), 2022 (2:01:09) and 2023 (2:02:42) as well as a runner-up finish in 2023 (2:03:23).

He further holds four triumphs in London 2015 (2:04:42), 2016 (2:03:05), 2018 (2:04:17) and 2019(2:02:37) as well as victories in Chicago 2014(2:04:11)) and Tokyo 2021(2:02:40).

Now 41, Kipchoge has also etched his name deep into the history books, twice lowering the world record in Berlin with 2:01:39 (2018) and 2:01:09 (2022) before the mark was eclipsed by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago 2023 (2:00:35).

He remains the only man to breach the mythical two-hour barrier, albeit unofficially, clocking 1:59:40 at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, a run that redefined the limits of human endurance.

Kipchoge will not be alone in carrying Kenyan hopes, with 2024 Daegu Marathon champion Stephen Kiprop and reigning Paris Marathon winner Bernard Biwott also in the mix.

Standing in their path is 2023 World Championships silver medallist Maru Teferi, who will be keen to upset the Kenyan dominance.

In the women’s race, the evergreen Kiplagat, now 46, brings her own aura of excellence and longevity.

She is a two-time world champion from Daegu 2011 (2:28:43) and Moscow 2013(2:25:44). She remains one of the most consistent performers the marathon has ever seen.

Her decorated career includes Boston Marathon victories in 2017 (2:21:52) and 2021 (2:25:09), as well as triumphs in New York in 2010 (2:28:20) and London in 2014 (2:20:19).

She has also finished runner-up multiple times in London (2011, 2012 and 2013), Chicago (2016) and Boston (2019), underlining her remarkable staying power at the elite level.

Kiplagat will line up against formidable opposition, including 2020 Tokyo Marathon champion Lonah Salpeter and 2025 Xiamen Marathon winner Ruti Aga.