Africa targets road race wins

by DION HENRICK
CAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – ATHLETICS takes centre stage this weekend with key road running and international competitions featuring a strong African presence, particularly in South Africa and Brazil.

The headline event on the continent is the Two Oceans Marathon, taking place in Cape Town on Saturday and Sunday.

The ultra-distance (56km) and half marathon races attract elite African runners, especially locally (South Africa), Kenya and Ethiopia.

The event runs across both days, starting early morning and concluding in the afternoon.

African athletes are widely favoured here, with Kenyan and Ethiopian runners traditionally dominating long-distance races due to their endurance and altitude training.

South African contenders will also be competitive on home soil, with local knowledge of the course offering a strong advantage.

Victory is likely to come from East Africa, though a home win cannot be ruled out.

On the global stage, attention shifts to the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brazil on Sunday.

The championships feature marathon and half-marathon race walk events, with competitions starting from early morning.

African nations, including South Africa, Morocco, and Algeria, are fielding athletes in these endurance walking events.

While traditionally dominated by European and Asian competitors, African athletes are improving steadily and could challenge for podium positions, particularly in team standings.

However, their chances of outright victory remain moderate given the strength of established race-walking nations.

Additionally, South African athletes are preparing through recent domestic meets such as the Cape Milers Continental Tour event held just before the weekend, sharpening competition readiness.

Overall, this weekend presents a mix of opportunity and challenge for African athletics.

In road running, especially at the Two Oceans Marathon, African dominance is expected to continue, with East Africans leading the charge.

In race walking, African athletes are still emerging contenders but show growing promise on the world stage.

As the 2026 season builds toward major global championships, performances this weekend will offer an important indication of Africa’s strength in endurance athletics and its potential to expand success into other disciplines.

– CAJ News