"I did it without an HPC" - Chaumeton clocks 27:42 to win Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 10km Peace Run

Competing in his first 10km race in SA since becoming the first South African to produce a sub 28 minute clocking on home soil in 2022, Maxime Chaumeton delivered on his top billing status when he set a new course record to win the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 10km Peace Run in The Mother City yesterday morning (23 May). Eyeing the fastest time of 27:53 run by multiple SA record holder Adriaan Wildschutt on the same route two years ago, Chaumeton crossed the finish line in 27:42 to win by almost a minute from Thapelo Ramokhoase (28:34) and Cwenga Nose (29:00).

“This win and this course record really mean a lot to me. I don’t run in South Africa often, but this is my country, and I always try my best to represent it as best as I can whenever I race,” says Chaumeton who has father is French but was born and raised in Johannesburg. 

Chaumeton cruised to a dominant victory. Photo Credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius.

“The course record was the main target today, not trying for another sub-27, because I am building up to my track season and have to be careful what I do. A sub-27 takes a lot out of the legs, so today was just about trying to get that course record, and I'm very happy that I got it.”

In the end it was a routine victory for the man who has already set two national records on the road in the last twelve months. While his 13:06 for fifth place at last month’s Urban Trail de Lille - 5 et 10km in the French city of Lille was impressive, it was the 26:55 he clocked to finish as the runner-up at the tRunsylvania 10km race in Brasov, Romania last October that catapulted the 25-year-old into the upper echelons of elite distance running. 

Chaumeton celebrates Ramokhoase's new personal best with him. The 22-year-old Masai Athletic Club top runner smashed his 10km personal best by almost a minute. Photo Credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius.

Chaumeton believes that his achievements should inspire South Africans from all walks of life - especially those who may lack the technical and financial support system enjoyed by the best athletes around the world. He argues that because he has achieved all of that he has through simple hard work and teamwork while training under the guidance of 2004 New York Marathon champion Hendrick Ramaala in a public Johannesburg park (Zoo Lake), scores more can do the same.

“It’s all about the mindset. Once you run sub 28 once, then you believe that you can do it again,” explains the first South African to break the 27 minute 10km barrier. “As a South African, especially for those who have maybe grown up in poorer areas, it’s nice to know the I don’t have na HPC or an HPI. I do this off the soil, off the grounds in Zoo Lake. You learn from the likes of coach Hendrick and from training with people like Desmond Mokgobu who has won races overseas,” he told #TheTopRunner.

“There is so much talent in this country, and in my opinion, much bigger talents than me. Thapelo (Ramokhoase) has so much potential to run a sub-28, and once you do that, things really open up for you, like they did for me a few years back.”

Kavanagh defended her title and improved on her own course record which leaves her within reach of Glenrose Xaba's 31:12 SA 10km record. Photo Credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius.

In the women’s race, Tayla Kavanagh continued with her rich 2026 form as she defended her title in a personal best 31:25 to eclipse her own course record of 31:37 set last year. Second over the line was Kyla Jacobs in 32:48, with Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala rounding out the podium position with a 33:02 finishing time.