Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena set a new record at the Sydney Marathon, winning the men’s race in 2:04:42, more than a minute and a half faster than the former best time on the hilly harbour course that attracted 40,000 entrants worldwide. The 21‑year‑old, who switched from javelin throwing in 2023, broke away with Ethiopian Chimdessa Debele Gudeta inside the last two kilometres and surged ahead on the downhill stretch toward the Opera House, edging out his rival by four seconds.
Gobena, who had finished second to Hailemaryam Kiros the previous year, celebrated with a clenched‑fist gesture after crossing the line. “I am very happy. Last year I was second, I learned from that result, worked on it back home, and today I performed to break the record,” he said through an interpreter.
Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana took third place in 2:04:57. The top seven finishers, including Kiros, all posted times under Kiros’s 2023 record of 2:06:06.
The marathon’s second edition as a premier event, joining New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and Chicago, featured a strong women’s field. Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir surged early and won by over three minutes, claiming her fourth major marathon title in 2:18:31, just nine seconds shy of Sifan Hassan’s 2023 mark. Jepchirchir has now added Sydney to her victories in Boston, New York and London.
Irene Chepet Cheptai was second in 2:22:11, while Ethiopia’s Shure Demise Ware finished third, 22 seconds behind. An embarrassing medal error saw the Munich Allianz Arena depicted on the medals instead of Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, a mistake organisers acknowledged.
In the wheelchair categories, United States’ Daniel Romanchuk broke the course record for his first Sydney Marathon win, clocking 1:26:50, more than 30 seconds faster than the previous best. “I wasn’t sure what to expect … I made a test surge, created a little gap and held it,” he explained.
Britain’s David Weir was second in 1:31:33, and China’s Luo Xingchuan took third, two seconds behind. Switzerland’s Manuela Schär also set a new women’s wheelchair record at 1:42:04, with Eden Rainbow‑Cooper of Britain second.
The event showcased elite competition across foot‑race and wheelchair divisions, marking a successful second year as a major marathon.
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