The 2025 Sydney Marathon promises to be a historic edition as it officially debuts as the seventh member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. With the race now standing alongside Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York City, and Tokyo, the event has attracted a stellar field of elite athletes, led by marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge and Dutch superstar Sifan Hassan.
The course is considered the toughest of the majors, with 1,040 feet of elevation gain. It begins in North Sydney, crosses the iconic Harbour Bridge, and finishes at the Sydney Opera House. Conditions are expected to be ideal for racing, with a mild breeze and temperatures ranging between the mid-40s and high-60s Fahrenheit.
Men’s Race: Kipchoge vs Rising Stars
All attention will be on Eliud Kipchoge, who returns to competition following a sixth-place finish at the London Marathon earlier this year. The 40-year-old two-time Olympic champion is determined to show he can still dominate on the biggest stage, despite the challenges of age and Sydney’s hilly course. Kipchoge has expressed that he has “nothing more to prove” in his career but remains motivated to deliver another strong performance.
Challenging him will be Vincent Ngetich, the Kenyan prodigy who clocked an astonishing 2:03:13 on his Berlin debut. He has since established himself as a consistent performer with podium finishes in Tokyo. Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde, who recently won the Xiamen Marathon in 2:06, is also a major contender, while American Edward Cheserek will be looking to build on his 2:05:24 personal best from Valencia.
Women’s Race: Hassan Headlines Strong Field
In the women’s field, all eyes will be on Sifan Hassan, fresh from winning Olympic marathon gold in Paris while also claiming bronze in the 5,000m and 10,000m. She is the third-fastest woman in marathon history and will be eager to improve on her recent third-place showing in London.
She faces strong competition from Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, a former world record-holder with an incredible record at major races, and defending Sydney champion Workenesh Edesa, who set an Australian all-comers record last year. Edesa has already picked up wins in Hamburg and Osaka this season, while Meseret Belete and Ashete Bekere add further Ethiopian firepower with their sub-2:18 personal bests.
Time and Where to Watch
The race starts at 11:30pm East African Time on Saturday. Fans across Africa can watch on SuperSport, while European viewers will have access via EuroSport and DAZN. In the United States, coverage will be available on CBS Sports, FloSports, MASN TV and Fight Network, with broadcasts also scheduled in China and Japan.
With Kipchoge seeking to extend his legacy and Hassan chasing another major triumph, Sydney is set for a marathon that could redefine the landscape of distance running.
