Gobena, Jepchirchir Win Sydney Marathon

It was the first World Marathon Major win for 21-year-old Gobena, who finished second last year, while Jepchirchir added to her previous triumphs in Boston, New York and London. Gobena made his move in the last kilometre to power home four seconds clear of compatriot Chimdessa Debele Gudeta in 2:04:42, with Lesotho's Tebello Ramakongoana taking third. The dominant run shattered the course record by almost one and a half minutes, with last year's winner Hailemaryam Kiros dropping off the pace in the dying stages.

"I am very happy, said Gobena, a former javelin thrower who gained international attention by winning the 2024 Dubai Marathon. "Last year I came second, I learnt from my mistake and I went back home and I worked on my mistake to perform and break the record today. Jepchirchir crossed the finish line in front of the Sydney Opera House in 2:18:31, nearly four minutes ahead of fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai and Ethiopia's Shure Demise Ware.

"I was prepared, but I was not sure when I came here if I would win, so I'm so glad and I'm so happy, said Jepchirchir. "It was so hilly. First half [of the race] was so tough, but the second was better at least.

But it was not easy. In the men's race, the leading pack had thinned to 15 by the halfway mark, with Gobena, world champion Alphonce Simbu and Kiros among them. Dawit Wolde, Vincent Ngetich and Gobena all attempted breakaways but were reeled in by a pack reduced to seven with six kilometres left.

Gobena and Gudeta made their move at the 40km mark, with Gobena outkicking his countryman in the final sprint. Among the women, Kenya's Priscah Cherono opened a 20-second gap by 15km and 30 seconds by halfway, but Jepchirchir and Cheptai caught the 46-year-old just before 30km. Jepchirchir finished nine seconds off the course record set by Olympic champion Sifan Hassan in 2025. American Daniel Romanchuk won the men's wheelchair race, while Switzerland's Manuela Schar, a three-time Paralympic gold medallist, took the women's. Around 40,000 runners – a record – competed over the 42.19km course from North Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge to the finish line on the forecourt of the Opera House. The race was elevated last year to the seventh World Marathon Major, putting it on a par with London, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York.