ASA chief Enoch Skosana expects fast times at National Marathon Championships

The federation has also released its 2025 calendar, with the Cape Town race scheduled first to give athletes an early chance to qualify for the World Championships.

Those who fall short will still have opportunities to meet the qualifying standards at other marathons locally and abroad later in the year.

"I am so excited because the Cape Penisula, it is a historic event, It is more than 68 years now because all the guys that ran this marathon previously, remember in 1987, they ran 2:11:00 and 1990, the ladies ran, 2:37:00,” Skosana said.

“So, for me, the race is faster if you get top athletes that can run the course because if someone can run 2:11:00, 1987, the economy of today is better than 1987, which means that people can run faster. So, I'm so excited because the course itself will give opportunity for athletes to prove themselves on their performance."

READ: Athletics South Africa to elect a new board in May

The retired long-distance runner believes that athletes could still qualify even if they don’t meet the qualifying standards of 2:06:30 for men and 2:23:30 for women to secure their spot at the world event in Tokyo this September.

He urged them to rank among the top 80 athletes globally to qualify through the points system.

"We are looking forward if they can reach the standard, not 2:06:30 because the shape of 2:06:30 needs a big field to achieve that and Glenrose Xaba for 2:23:30, we need a big field but now at least they can run 2:40:00,” he added.

“Even other people they don't focus on 2:06:00 to qualify, they also on ranking points. If our athletes can come and run our championships, we are gonna earn more points.

“We've got an opportunity when World Athletics says we are gonna take 80 athletes then we've got an opportunity to go to the World Champs but if our athletes don't run in the Nationals Champs but they are still in the top 80, we can still select them. We are not gonna close any doors for our athletes."