Ethiopian Gobena and Kenyan Jepchirchir power to Sydney Marathon victories
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Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena (left) and Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir won the men’s and women’s races respectively at the Sydney Marathon on Aug 30.
PHOTOS: REUTERS
- Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena won the men's Sydney Marathon, breaking the course record with a time of 2hr 4min 42sec by a four-second lead.
- Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir dominated the women's race, finishing in 2:18:31, nearly four minutes ahead and close to the course record.
- The Sydney Marathon attracted a record 40,000 runners and became the seventh World Marathon Major in 2025, joining top global events.
AI generated
SYDNEY – Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena and Kenyan world champion Peres Jepchirchir surged to commanding wins on Aug 30 in the men’s and women’s races respectively at the Sydney Marathon.
Victory was the first in a World Marathon Major for 21-year-old Gobena, who came second in 2025, 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 2hr 4min 42sec. Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana came third.
The dominant run shattered the course record by almost 90 seconds, with 2025 winner Hailemaryam Kiros dropping from the pace in the dying stages.
“I am very happy,” said Gobena, who was a javelin thrower before transitioning to long-distance running, gaining 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.”
The unstoppable Jepchirchir was in a league of her own, crossing 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 they were reeled in by a pack reduced to seven with 6km left.
It was still the same group at the 40km mark before Gobena and Gudeta made their move, pulling clear with Gobena outkicking his countryman in the final sprint.
Kenya’s Priscah Cherono went out hard among the women, opening a 20sec gap by 15km and 30 seconds by halfway.
But the lead chasers, down to just Jepchirchir and Cheptai, caught the 46-year-old Kenyan just before 30km.
Jepchirchir and Cheptai eased clear and the relentless world champion then put her foot to the floor, finishing 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 medal winner, took out the women’s.
Around 40,000 runners, a record, competed over the picturesque 42.19 kmcourse through the city from North Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge to the finish line on the forecourt of the Opera House.
The race was elevated in 2025 to the seventh World Marathon Major, putting it on a par with London, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York in the elite global series. AFP
