Sifan Hassan and Hailemaryam Kiros redefined the Sydney Marathon on Sunday, each surging to course records as the historic event made its debut on the World Marathon Majors circuit.
Hassan’s Dominant Performance
Racing along a route from North Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge, and finishing at the Opera House, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands claimed the women’s title in 2:18:22—more than three minutes faster than the previous record. Hassan, the reigning Olympic marathon champion, now holds victories in four of her six career marathons, adding this win to her triumphs in London, Chicago, and the Olympic Games. For much of the race, Hassan and Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei traded leads in a tightly bunched pack. Hassan made her decisive break after 35 kilometers, pulling away on the course’s undulations and crossing the finish first. Kosgei followed in 2:18:56, both athletes becoming the first women to break 2:20 on Australian soil, with Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa third in 2:22:15.
Kiros Sets Men’s Record
Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros emerged from a stacked field to seize the men’s crown in 2:06:06, the fastest marathon ever recorded in Australia. After a tactical first half settled in 1:03:45, Kiros broke away with countryman Addisu Gobena in the closing kilometers. Kiros launched his attack with less than a kilometer to go, holding off Gobena by 10 seconds. Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana took third, while marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge finished ninth in 2:08:31.
Race Atmosphere and Significance
This year’s edition drew an estimated 35,000 runners, a record for the event, with the course weaving through some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks. The marathon’s inclusion in the World Marathon Majors marks Australia’s arrival among the sport’s most prestigious races, joining the ranks of New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo, and Chicago. Both courses, noted for their challenging hills and sweeping views, offered athletes a dramatic setting for a record-breaking day.
Leading results
Women
1 Sifan Hassan (NED) 2:18:22
2 Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:18:56
3 Workenesh Edesa (ETH) 2:22:15
4 Sichala Kumeshi (ETH) 2:22:50
5 Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:23:13
6 Ai Hosoda (JPN) 2:23:27
Men
1 Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) 2:06:06
2 Addisu Gobena (ETH) 2:06:16
3 Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) 2:06:47
4 Mustapha Houdadi (MAR) 2:07:17
5 Edward Cheserek (KEN) 2:07:38
6 Masato Arao (JPN) 2:07:42
Both Hassan and Kiros credited their preparation and acknowledged the intensity of the fields they faced, underscoring the marathon’s elevated profile on the world stage.