World-class field in Cape

The only road race in Africa to hold IAAF Gold Label status, organisers are hoping a flatter and easier course will produce faster times, with the prestigious Sanlam Cape Town Marathon attracting another world-class field for next month’s race.

A handful of local contenders would face a powerful international contingent at the annual 42km contest.

Defending champion Asefa Mengstu will lead a strong Ethiopian line-up in the men’s race, turning out as the favourite after he won last year in 2:08:41, setting a personal best and clocking the fastest time ever run on a standard 42km course in South Africa.

He finished seventh at the London Marathon in April in 2:10:04.

His countryman Abrha Milaw, boasting a career best of 2:07:46 which he set at the 2014 Dubai Marathon, was the fastest man announced in the line-up, while Laban Mutai was expected to spearhead the Kenyan onslaught after clocking a career best of 2:08:01 in Cologne in October 2012.

The local challenge could be carried by debutant Elroy Gelant, a former track specialist who set the national 5 000m record of 13:04.88 in Hengelo last year.

Gelant offered a glimpse of his potential over the longer distance on the road when he finished 13th in a personal best of 1:01:10 at the World Half-Marathon Championships in Copenhagen in 2014.

In the women’s race, Tish Jones of Great Britain returns to defend her title after securing victory last year in 2:36:13.

She faces a powerful East African contingent, however, which included Kenyan Agnes Kiprop, who set a personal best of 2:23:54 in Frankfurt in October 2011.

Irvette van Zyl was perhaps the favourite among the local women, as she aims to bounce back from injury troubles this year.