Around 1500 trail runners took to the slopes of Table Mountain and its neighbouring peaks, partaking in the Cape Town Trail Marathon events on Saturday, 18 October. Forming part of the festival weekend of running at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, the three trail runs kicked off with the 43km Cape Town Trail Marathon, followed by the 22km and 11km shorter trails. The windy and hot conditions made the Marathon all the more challenging, but the incredibly festive finish in Green Point, alongside the 14,500 Peace Run 10km and 5km participants, made for an extra special experience for the trail runners.
The marathon course was designed by legendary South African trail runner Ryan Sandes and was first run in 2021, originally covering 46km but then slightly shortened last year to 43km. Having helped to start the race early in the morning, Sandes says he found the experience at the finish line particularly inspiring.
“My mind is blown by some of the performances, and it was really great to see all the emotions as the runners crossed the line. I find it incredibly rewarding to stand on the other side of a finish line for a change, and one of the things that I love about the sport of trail running is what a cool community we have. So, I’m incredibly stoked with how the day played out, and it’s really cool to see the Cape Town Trail Marathon growing. A big thanks to all the sponsors and partners who make this all possible.”
After winning the Cape Town Trail Marathon and claiming the R50,000 first place prize, Philani Sengce struggled to control his emotions at the post-race prize-giving. Photograph by Johann Minnaar.
Emotional Cape Town Trail Marathon Win for Sengce
In the premier trail event, Germany’s Marcel Hoeche led the race for much of the way, but in the end, ran out of legs and was passed by two local runners in the final stages, first by Philani Sengce and then also by Robbie Rorich. Sengce powered his way to the win in 3:50:16, taking well over eight minutes off the course record 3:59:42 set last year by Collin Kanyimo, with Rorich (3:51:29) and Hoeche (3:52:03) also finishing inside the old record. Fourth place went to Jacques Du Plessis (4:00:51), with Kanyimo trailing in fifth in 4:01:54.
Sengce, who is originally from the Eastern Cape but currently lives in Khayamandi, Stellenbosch, was obviously emotional when he crossed the line first, and that emotion came bubbling up again during the post-race prize-giving ceremony. He dropped to his knees, hands clasped, when he heard that he had set a new course record, and within seconds of standing again, he needed to sit down as he took in the announcement that he had won the first prize of R50,000.
“The race was fast and I was lying in third most of the way, but when I passed Robbie, the guys on the route told me that Marcel was just one minute ahead of me, so I opened up my strides to catch him. I sat with him for a while, and with three kilometres to go, I made my move,” says Sengce. “This is a big win for me, because I was injured for six months and this was just my second race of the year. I was already shocked with the win, then on stage they said it was a course record, and then the prize money… That was news to me, and I almost fainted!”
Landie Greyling overcame cramping legs to claim a second win in the Cape Town Trail Marathon, then announced her retirement from competitive trail running. Photograph by Johann Minnaar.
Greyling Goes Out at the Top
The women’s marathon race also dished up some overtaking manoeuvres. The leader for the first 20km was 2022 winner Landie Greyling, but she was passed around the 20km mark by Maryke van Zyl and then had to fight back late in the race to take back the lead. Greyling went on to win the race in 4:46:47, with Van Zyl finishing less than a minute down in 4:47:38, with Nadia Booyens third in 4:56:49.
Greyling, who has represented South Africa at the World Championships of trail running and is also the current SA Marathon Champion in road running, says she had to dig really deep for this win, and then added a big announcement. “I was leading until Kirstenbosch, but my legs weren’t feeling great and I was cramping, so when Maryke passed me, I decided to hang back until my legs hopefully came back. I felt I was out of the race and just wanted to hold on to second place, but at 30 kays my I felt strong again and told myself I must keep fighting, because it’s a long race and it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.”
“On the last downhill I saw Maryke again and decided to sprint as hard as I could. I caught her with two kays to go, and then I was doing 3:30s per kay on the last tar section to stay ahead. With one kay to go, both my calves started cramping again, and I thought she was going to catch me again, but I managed to hold it together. It’s lovely to win this race again, because I love this route and everything is just so well organised, and that makes it a great place to go out on the top. I’ve decided that I want to spend more time with my family and focus on my career as a chartered accountant again, so I’ve decided it’s time to retire from competitive running. But what a way to end on this high!”
Siboniso Soldaka made it five wins in a row in the men’s 22km at the Cape Town Trail Run. Photograph by Johann Minnaar.
Soldaka’s 22km Reign Extended
Having won the previous four editions of the 22km race, Siboniso Soldaka left it very late to make it five in a row. Remametse Lekaka set the pace from the first kilometre, with Soldaka happy to sit on his shoulder, but with just one kay to go, the perennial winner of this race put his foot down and pushed for home. Soldaka went on to win in 1:14:17, with Lekaka taking second in 1:14:37. “The race was interesting, and I really enjoyed it, but had to work hard for the win!” says Soldaka. “I always enjoy running this course, because I’m a steeplechase runner on the track and this kind of race really helps me build strength in my off-season.”
Lekaka, who hails from the Limpopo Province, was not overly disappointed with second place. “We ran together from the first kay, but with one kilometre to go, I was tired and he took the lead. My aim was to win, but this was my first race in Cape Town, so I’m happy with my second place and really pleased with my improvement after struggling with my running this year.”
Rebecca Watney’s decision to run the 22km paid off as she took line honours in the women’s 22km at the Cape Town Trail Run. Photograph by Johann Minnaar.
22km Choice Works for Watney
Having run the Cape Town Trail Marathon last year just weeks after finishing second at the Otter TERREX Trail, Rebecca Watney decided to run the 22km race in Cape Town this year after once again finishing second in the Otter. The decision paid off, because whereas she finished second in Cape Town last year, this time she took the win in the 22km, crossing the line in 1:48:56, with Lijan Burger second in 1:55:25, followed by Nicola Vahrmeijer (1:57:32).
“I was really tempted to run the marathon again, because I love the longer races, it’s a great course, and there was a big pot. This 22km was a bit out of my comfort zone, but it went really well, and I’m glad I did it,” says Watney. “I just went for it, going off of effort from the start, not thinking about other people and just running my own race. I was alone for a lot of the race, but I had a good run and I’m really happy with the win.”
This was Burger’s first race since giving birth in May, and she was understandably happy with a second place on her return to action. “It was just really nice to be back out there. I missed racing, and the racing community vibe. I can’t say it went perfectly today, but it was a good first race back. I can see a lot of things to work on, but nothing too bad, thankfully. Congrats to Rebecca on the win, because I never saw her again after eight kays.”
Photo by Mark Sampson.
11km Course Record Also Falls
Overall line honours in the 11km event went to Riaan Wildschut in 47:02, well within the previous course record, 49:50, set by Admire Rushika back 2018. Second over the line was Khulekani Mbuyazi in 54:29, with Mthobisi Ntanzi third in 55:23. The women’s win was claimed by Nozipho Motaung in 1:10:40, with Ashley Jane Kettles second in 1:12:31 and German visitor Sandra Kropp third in 1:12:42.
More Action Tomorrow
With the Cape Town Trail Marathon races completed, as well as the Peace Run 10km and 5km road events, the running festival continues on Sunday, 19 October with the flagship Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. Boasting 24,000 starters and the fastest field ever assembled for a marathon on African soil, many are predicting that the course records will fall, as well as the South African and African All-comers records. The race will be broadcast live on SuperSport from 5:50am to 11:00am.
Photo by Fahwaaz Cornelius.
2025 Cape Town Trail Marathon Results:
44km Men
- Philani Sengce (South Africa) 3:50:16 (CR)
- Robbie Rorich (South Africa) 3:51:29
- Marcel Hoeche (Germany) 3:52:03
- Jacques Du Plessis (South Africa) 4:00:51
- Collin Kanyimo (Zimbabwe) 4:01:54
44km Women
- Landie Greyling (South Africa) 4:46:47
- Maryke Van Zyl (South Africa) 4:47:38
- Nadia Booyens (South Africa) 4:56:49
- Veroné Grobler (South Africa) 5:05:22
- Jeanne Brink (South Africa) 5:15:12
22km Men
- Siboniso Soldaka (South Africa) 1:14:17
- Remaketse Lekaka (South Africa) 1:14:37
- Peter Underson Ncube (South Africa) 1:27:48
- Wano Katjiri (Namibia) 1:33:08
- Siviwe Nkombi (South Africa) 1:34:20
22km Women
- Rebecca Watney (South Africa) 1:48:56
- Lijan Burger (South Africa) 1:55:25
- Nicola Vahrmeijer (South Africa) 1:57:32
- Olga Antoniceva (Latvia) 2:02:56
- Kiara Damianou (South Africa) 2:05:24
11km Men
- Riaan Wildschut (South Africa) 47:02 (CR)
- Khulekani Mbuyazi (South Africa) 54:29
- Mthobisi Ntanzi (South Africa) 55:23
- Riaan Marais (South Africa) 58:37
- Giovanni Schilder (South Africa) 1:01:33
11km Women
- Nozipho Motaung (South Africa) 1:10:40
- Ashley Jane Kettles (South Africa) 1:12:31
- Sandra Kropp (Germany) 1:12:42
- Esmee Gummer (Great Britain) 1:14:12
- Tayler Azevedo (South Africa) 1:14:15
For more information, please visit www.capetownmarathon.com.
