The Sydney Marathon’s debut as part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors delivered a spectacular day of fast times, dramatic battles, and historic performances. While Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros and Dutch superstar Sifan Hassan claimed the spotlight with record-breaking victories, legendary marathoner Eliud Kipchoge endured a rare struggle, finishing outside the podium in ninth place.
In the men’s race, Kiros stormed to victory with a time of 2:06:06, the fastest marathon ever run on Australian soil. He edged his compatriot Addisu Gobena by just ten seconds in a thrilling duel that went down to the wire. Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana secured third place, completing a podium that reflected Africa’s dominance in long-distance running. The result also erased the previous course record set by Kenya’s Brimin Kipkorir last year.
The women’s race was dominated by Sifan Hassan, who produced an extraordinary performance to win in 2:18:22, slashing more than three minutes off the course record. Her relentless pace proved too much for a world-class field. Former marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei of Kenya battled hard to finish second, just 34 seconds behind, while Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa, last year’s champion, settled for third in 2:22:05.
Australia celebrated a strong showing from its own athletes, with Leanne Pompeani finishing seventh in a personal-best 2:24:47. Olympians Jess Stenson and Lisa Weightman followed closely in eighth and ninth, ensuring a proud home performance in front of cheering crowds.
For Kipchoge, it was an afternoon of resilience rather than supremacy. The 40-year-old marathon great dropped out of the lead pack after the 31-kilometre mark and could not recover, eventually crossing the line in 2:08:31. Despite the result, he remained optimistic, highlighting the unity and inspiration that running brings. He urged more runners to join next year, envisioning participation to grow beyond 55,000 athletes.
The wheelchair events added further excitement to the historic day. Swiss legend Marcel Hug obliterated the men’s course record with an astonishing 1:27:15, nearly ten minutes faster than the previous best. In the women’s race, American Susannah Scaroni dominated in 1:45:52, also setting a new record by a wide margin.
Sydney’s inaugural World Marathon Majors race will be remembered not only for its records but also for the symbolic presence of Kipchoge, who continues to inspire runners worldwide despite his rare off-podium finish.
