Running News Daily

The Sydney Marathon was meant to celebrate one of Australia’s most iconic cities. Instead, its 2026 finisher’s medal has unexpectedly brought a little piece of Munich into the spotlight.

The back of the medal features a collection of landmarks designed to represent Sydney and the 42.2-kilometre journey runners will take through the city, including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. But alongside those unmistakably Australian symbols is a rather surprising addition: Munich’s Allianz Arena.

The stadium was supposed to represent Sydney’s Allianz Stadium in Moore Park. Instead, the medal designers somehow used the distinctive home of Bayern Munich in Germany.

The mistake was spotted shortly after the medal was unveiled and quickly spread across social media before attracting international media attention. With the race now just days away, there is no time to redesign and replace the medals already produced for the event.

Organisers have acknowledged the mistake, describing it as an “unfortunate error” and making clear that the medals will still be presented to runners on race day.

Rather than attempting to hide the blunder, Sydney Marathon has chosen to embrace the unexpected twist, saying the medal is now “a little more unique.” Their response ended on a light-hearted note: “You noticed. We noticed. We’re human.”

And while the incorrect stadium may have created an embarrassing moment for the organisers, it has also given the 2026 medal something no previous Sydney Marathon medal has had — a story of its own.

That story will be carried around the necks of approximately 40,000 runners when the Sydney Marathon takes place on Sunday, August 30.

The timing could hardly be more significant for the race. Sydney is only in its second year as an Abbott World Marathon Major, having joined the prestigious series in 2024 alongside Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. The event has rapidly established itself as one of the world’s most sought-after marathons, with more than 123,000 runners entering the ballot for the 2026 race, a 56 percent increase from the previous year.

For those 40,000 successful entrants, the medal will ultimately represent something far more important than a design mistake. Behind every medal is months of preparation, early mornings, long training runs, sacrifices and the determination required to cover 42.2 kilometres.

And when the runners finally reach the finish line at the Sydney Opera House, they will receive a medal that was intended to tell the story of Sydney — but accidentally tells a small story about Munich too.

What began as an embarrassing design error may now become one of the most memorable quirks in Sydney Marathon history. Years from now, runners may look back at their 2026 medals not simply as souvenirs of finishing one of the world’s major marathons, but as unusual collector’s pieces from the year Sydney accidentally put Munich on its medal.

A Sydney marathon. A Munich stadium. One unforgettable medal.

On August 30, approximately 35,000 runners will line up at Miller Street in North Sydney for the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon. Among them will be an athlete who already owns a piece of marathon history: Michael Roeger, the Australian T46 marathon world-record holder and one of the most remarkable endurance athletes of his generation.

At 38, Roeger returns to the marathon with a career shaped by persistence, reinvention and an extraordinary ability to keep moving forward whenever circumstances have threatened to derail him.

Sydney is a fitting stage for the next chapter. The marathon, now part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, takes runners through some of the city's most recognisable landmarks, beginning in North Sydney, crossing the Harbour Bridge and eventually finishing near the Opera House. For Roeger, however, this is about far more than another marathon.

He is returning to the distance in the city where he set the fastest T46 marathon ever recorded.

Roeger grew up in Langhorne Creek, a small South Australian community about 55 kilometres south of Adelaide. Born without the lower half of his right arm, he discovered Para athletics after Paralympian Neil Fuller visited his school when Roeger was 12.

What began as an introduction to sport eventually developed into a career spanning five Paralympic Games, world championships, major medals and multiple world records.

His T46 classification covers athletes with an arm amputation or comparable upper-limb difference. Yet describing Roeger's performances simply through his classification fails to capture the complexity of what he has achieved.

Running is an intricate coordination of the entire body. The arms contribute to balance, rhythm and control, helping the torso manage the rotational forces created by every stride. Over 42.195 kilometres, maintaining efficient movement is an enormous physical and technical challenge.

Roeger's marathon performances therefore represent much more than a number attached to a classification. They are elite endurance performances in their own right.

His transition to the marathon was remarkably rapid. Roeger made his marathon debut at the Melbourne Marathon in October 2018, running 2:23:31. The performance was faster than the existing T46 world record at the time, although it was not ratified as a world record because the race did not have the necessary status.

Six months later, he returned to the distance at the 2019 London Marathon, where the World Para Athletics Marathon Championships were staged within the race.

This time, everything came together.

Roeger won the T46 world title in 2:22:51, lowering the ratified world record and establishing himself as the world's leading marathoner in the classification. Even when cramp began to trouble him during the closing stages, he held on to become a world champion.

The progression continued.

At the 2020 Chevron Houston Marathon, Roeger ran 2:19:33, becoming the first ambulant Para athlete to break the 2:20 barrier and once again lowering his own world record.

But his most significant breakthrough came back in Australia.

On April 25, 2021, Roeger lined up in Sydney for the Athletics Australia Tokyo Qualifying Marathon. He produced the fastest marathon of his career, crossing the finish line in 2:18:53.

That performance remains the T46 marathon world record.

The progression is remarkable. From 2:23:31 in Melbourne to 2:22:51 in London, 2:19:33 in Houston and finally 2:18:53 in Sydney, Roeger repeatedly moved the benchmark forward.

It was almost five minutes of improvement across four marathon performances.

But the record is only one part of the story.

Roeger's career has never followed a smooth upward trajectory. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, aged only 20, he contested the 800m, 1500m and 5000m T46 events, with seventh place in the 1500m his best finish.

Four years later in London, he arrived with genuine medal ambitions. Instead, gastrointestinal bleeding struck on the eve of the T46 800m. He still started the race but was forced to withdraw after one lap.

Rio 2016 finally delivered a Paralympic medal, with Roeger winning bronze in the 1500m. That success helped convince him to move towards the longer distances and eventually make the marathon his primary focus.

Then came another major setback.

Six weeks before the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Roeger suffered a stress fracture in his lower leg, destroying much of his preparation for the marathon. Despite the injury, he travelled to Tokyo and made the start line.

He finished sixth in 2:34:45, a time far outside the level he had demonstrated before the Games.

For most athletes, such a setback could have marked the end of the road. For Roeger, it became another chapter in a career defined by adaptation.

Before the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, another obstacle emerged when the T46 marathon was removed from the programme. The event in which Roeger had become a world-record holder was no longer available at the Games.

His only remaining distance was the 1500m.

So he adapted once again.

Roeger returned to the track and competed in Paris, ultimately adding another Paralympic medal to his collection with silver in the T46 1500m.

Now the marathon is calling again.

The 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon will provide a very different challenge from the flat courses on which many of the world's fastest marathon times are produced. The route begins in North Sydney, crosses the Sydney Harbour Bridge and winds through the city before finishing at the Opera House.

The course features substantial elevation changes, with approximately 313 metres of climbing across the 42.195 kilometres. It is a course that rewards strength, patience and the ability to maintain efficient form when the legs are already carrying the fatigue of a long marathon.

For Roeger, that challenge will be amplified by the quality of the field around him.

The Australian elite field includes a strong collection of domestic marathoners, while the international men's race features considerable depth, with numerous athletes holding personal bests below 2:10.

Roeger will therefore not be lining up in isolation as a Para athlete. He will be part of a major international marathon field, surrounded by runners pursuing national titles, personal bests and elite honours.

That is also central to the way he has approached his career.

Roeger has long resisted the idea that Para athletes should be viewed as fundamentally separate from their able-bodied counterparts. His philosophy has been simple: once the starting gun goes, the competition is about running.

That attitude has helped him move comfortably between Para athletics and open elite competition, and Sydney 2026 offers another opportunity to do exactly that.

His partnership with coach Dr Philo Saunders has been particularly important throughout his career, helping him develop into a world-class athlete across multiple distances.

Yet perhaps the most impressive part of Roeger's story is not any individual medal or record.

It is the number of times he has had to begin again.

From a small South Australian town to five Paralympic Games. From disappointment in Beijing and London to a medal in Rio. From the track to the marathon. From a devastating injury before Tokyo to a world-record performance. From losing his marathon event before Paris to returning to the 1500m and winning another Paralympic medal.

Every time the route has changed, Roeger has found another way forward.

Now, at 38, he is returning to the marathon once more.

And there could hardly be a more fitting destination than Sydney.

It is the city where he produced his 2:18:53 world record in 2021. Five years later, he will return to the same city carrying the experience of a career that has tested his resilience at almost every turn.

The world record is already in his name.

On August 30, Michael Roeger will have another chance to show the world what remains in the legs of the man who refused to let setbacks define the limits of his career.

The TCS Sydney Marathon is no longer content to be a one-day spectacle reserved for those wearing race bibs. In 2026, the event is extending its reach across the Harbour City, turning marathon week into a citywide celebration that runners, spectators, residents and visitors can all enjoy.

The fourth edition of the marathon’s Run Perks program will run from Tuesday, August 25, through Monday, August 31, surrounding race day on Sunday, August 30, with Medal Monday following on August 31.

The initiative brings restaurants, pubs, cafés and tourism operators into the marathon experience, offering a wide range of special deals designed to encourage people to explore Sydney while supporting local businesses. Offers are listed through the official TCS Sydney Marathon app, with location-aware features helping users discover participating venues closest to them.

What makes Run Perks particularly appealing is that the benefits are not exclusively reserved for competitors. While some individual offers are specifically aimed at marathon participants, many are available to the wider marathon community, meaning you do not necessarily need a race bib or finisher’s medal to take part in the broader race-week experience.

The deals range from straightforward food and drink specials to experiences designed to help visitors discover more of Sydney. Among the offerings are $20 schnitzels at The Glenmore Hotel, a $25 pizza-and-beer deal at The Australian Heritage Hotel, and a $19 lunch special at 4 Doors Down. Other venues are offering coffee deals, discounts on meals, tours and attractions across the city.

There are also race-specific opportunities for those taking part in the marathon. Some businesses are offering post-race incentives for finishers who present their medals or proof of participation, while others are extending discounts to spectators, support crews and the wider marathon community.

The concept reflects a broader shift in how Sydney is embracing its marathon. After making history as the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major, the TCS Sydney Marathon is becoming increasingly intertwined with the identity, tourism and business life of the city itself. The 2026 edition is expected to attract more than 40,000 participants, building on the 32,963 finishers recorded in 2025.

That scale gives Run Perks significance beyond a collection of discounts. Thousands of runners and their families will spend several days in Sydney, while spectators and residents will encounter the event throughout the city. By encouraging people to eat locally, visit attractions and experience different parts of Sydney, the marathon is helping turn the economic and social impact of race week into something that extends well beyond the course.

The timing is also important. Sydney is still establishing itself as one of the world’s major marathon destinations, having entered the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025. The 2026 event represents its second year as a Major and comes with ambitions for an even larger field and an even greater international profile.

And that is perhaps the most interesting part of Run Perks: the marathon is becoming less about what happens between the start and finish lines and more about what happens throughout the entire city.

From a coffee before sunrise to a post-race meal, an afternoon exploring The Rocks or an evening enjoying one of Sydney’s many restaurants and pubs, race week is being woven into the everyday rhythm of the city.

The official marathon app remains the best source for the latest participating venues, opening hours, redemption requirements and individual offer conditions, as these vary from business to business.

With more than 40,000 participants expected on August 30, Sydney is preparing for much more than another marathon. It is preparing for a week in which the entire city gets a chance to move, celebrate, explore and benefit from the energy of one of the world’s fastest-growing major marathons.

Sydney Marathon may have a start line and a finish line, but in 2026, its footprint stretches far beyond both.

Kenyan distance-running icon Vivian Cheruiyot is set to add another exciting chapter to her glittering career after confirming her participation in the 2026 Sydney Marathon, scheduled for August 30 in Australia.

The 42-year-old marathon star, who owns a personal best of 2:18:31, will line up against one of the strongest women's marathon fields ever assembled in Australia. Awaiting her is a mouthwatering showdown with fellow Kenyan and Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, promising fans a battle between two of the sport's finest competitors.

Cheruiyot arrives in Sydney with one of the most decorated résumés in the history of distance running. Across four Olympic Games, she has amassed an extraordinary collection of medals, winning Olympic gold in the 5,000m and silver in the 10,000m at the 2016 Rio Games, where she also set a new Olympic record in the 5,000m. She previously claimed silver in the 5,000m and bronze in the 10,000m at the 2012 London Olympics, cementing her place among Kenya's greatest track athletes.

Her success extends well beyond the Olympic stage. Cheruiyot is a multiple-time world champion, capturing the 5,000m world title in 2009 and 2011, while also completing a memorable long-distance double by winning the 10,000m world crown in 2011 before reclaiming the event's global title in 2015. She also earned silver in the 5,000m at the 2007 World Championships and has enjoyed success indoors with a silver medal in the 3,000m at the 2010 World Indoor Championships.

In addition to her global championship triumphs, Cheruiyot dominated the 2010 season by securing the Commonwealth Games, African Championships, Continental Cup, and Diamond League titles over 5,000 metres, further highlighting her remarkable consistency and versatility.

Although now competing in the marathon, Cheruiyot continues to prove that class and determination know no age. Her experience, tactical brilliance, and championship pedigree make her one of the standout names in an elite field packed with world-class talent.

With the Sydney Marathon continuing to establish itself as one of the world's premier road races, all eyes will be on Vivian Cheruiyot as the legendary Kenyan seeks to produce another memorable performance on Australian soil.

The TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS is set to deliver one of the most captivating marathon spectacles of the year, with the strongest women's elite field ever assembled on Australian soil preparing to battle for glory.

Headlining the star-studded lineup is reigning World Marathon Champion Peres Jepchirchir Ngeno, whose remarkable personal best of 2:14:43 makes her the fastest athlete in the field. The Kenyan arrives as one of the sport's most accomplished marathoners and will carry the weight of expectation as she leads an exceptionally deep and competitive international field.

Kenya's challenge extends far beyond its world champion. Irine Cheptai (2:17:51), Vivian Cheruiyot (2:18:31), Sharon Chelimo (2:19:33), Joyce Tele (2:19:50), Jackline Cherono (2:21:14) and Priscah Cherono (2:25:17) add tremendous depth, reinforcing the nation's reputation as the dominant force in women's marathon running.

Ethiopia will be equally formidable, boasting an impressive squad led by Ruti Aga (2:18:09), Shure Demise (2:18:34), Haven Hailu (2:19:09), Meseret Abebayehau (2:19:50), Aberu Ayana (2:20:20), Waganesh Mekasha (2:20:26), Azmera Gebru (2:20:48) and Fikrte Wereta (2:21:32). With such remarkable depth, Ethiopia has every opportunity to challenge for victory and dominate the podium.

The international flavor continues with Magdalena Shauri of Tanzania (2:18:03), Uganda's Stella Chesang (2:18:26), American-based Biruktayit Degefa (2:21:34), France's Melody Julien (2:25:01), Morocco's Kaoutar Farkoussi (2:25:12), Japan's Mizuki Nishimura (2:25:54) and Australia's leading hopes Ellie Pashley (2:26:21), Caitlin Scott (Adams) (2:30:26) and Rebecca Lowe (2:30:50).

With multiple women boasting personal bests under 2:20, the race promises relentless pace from the opening kilometres. The combination of proven championship pedigree, world-class experience and emerging talent sets the stage for what could become the fastest and most competitive women's marathon ever contested in Australia.

As the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS continues to cement its status among the world's premier marathons, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be a defining moment in the event's history. Fans can expect a fierce contest where every second will matter and marathon excellence will be on full display.

The 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS has raised the bar ahead of its biggest edition yet, unveiling the deepest men's elite field ever assembled on Australian soil. With an astonishing 14 athletes holding personal bests under the 2:05 barrier, this year's race is shaping up to be one of the fastest and most competitive marathons of the season.

Leading the star-studded lineup is reigning marathon world champion Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania, whose outstanding personal best of 2:02:47 makes him one of the leading contenders for victory. Simbu arrives in Sydney as one of the sport's most accomplished marathoners and is expected to spearhead an elite battle unlike anything previously seen in Australia.

Also among the favourites is Ethiopian standout Sisay Lemma, the fastest man in the field with a remarkable 2:01:48 personal best. Kenya will be strongly represented by Timothy Kiplagat (2:02:55) and Vincent Ngetich (2:03:13), while Ethiopia brings exceptional depth through athletes including Dawit Wolde, Leul Gebresilase, Seifu Tura, Chalu Deso, Addisu Gobena, Chala Regassa, Belay Tilahun, and Melaku Belachew.

South Africa's Tebello Ramakongoana, Djibouti's Ibrahim Hassan, and Australia's leading marathoners, including Andy Buchanan, headline a truly international field featuring elite athletes from Africa, Oceania, North America, and Asia.

The quality of the field is underlined by an extraordinary statistic—14 men have already broken 2:05 for the marathon, a level of depth never before seen at an Australian marathon. With so many proven performers capable of running world-class times, the race promises relentless pace from the opening kilometres to the finish.

As the Sydney Marathon continues to cement its place among the world's premier road races, the 2026 edition marks another major milestone in its rapid rise. With a world champion, multiple athletes with personal bests close to the 2:02 mark, and unprecedented depth across the field, fans can expect an unforgettable contest on the streets of Sydney.

All eyes will now be on race day to see whether this historic field can deliver equally historic performances in what is poised to become one of the most memorable marathons ever staged in Australia.

The landscape of global marathon racing could soon undergo a significant transformation after the Abbott World Marathon Majors confirmed that the Shanghai Marathon has successfully passed the first stage of evaluation in its quest to join the prestigious marathon series.

The Chinese race is now one step closer to becoming part of one of the most exclusive clubs in road running. If the event fulfills all remaining criteria during its December 2026 edition, Shanghai could officially be welcomed into the Majors calendar as early as 2027.

Such a development would mark a major milestone not only for the race itself but also for marathon running in Asia. In recent years, the Shanghai Marathon has steadily grown in stature, attracting elite athletes and producing performances that signal its readiness for the sport’s highest tier.

Evidence of that progress was on full display at the latest edition when former world record holder Brigid Kosgei delivered a historic run, clocking the fastest marathon ever recorded on Chinese soil. Her performance underscored the race’s rising reputation as a venue capable of hosting world-class competition and record-breaking moments.

At the same time, another race is nearing a decisive moment in its own bid for inclusion. The Cape Town Marathon is currently undergoing its final evaluation phase, with hopes of becoming the first African event to join the celebrated marathon series. Should it succeed, it would represent a landmark achievement for distance running across the continent and further highlight Africa’s profound influence on the sport.

If both Shanghai and Cape Town ultimately secure approval, the Abbott World Marathon Majors would expand from seven races to nine, reflecting the sport’s growing global reach.

At present, the Majors circuit consists of the world’s most iconic marathons: the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, the New York City Marathon, and the recently added Sydney Marathon.

The possible addition of Shanghai and Cape Town would represent more than just numerical growth. It would signal a new era for marathon running — one that reflects the sport’s expanding global footprint, bringing the Majors closer to runners and fans across Asia and Africa while strengthening the truly worldwide identity of the marathon.

The global marathon spotlight will once again circle the world in 2026 as the Abbott World Marathon Majors return with a powerful seven-race series that stretches from Asia to Europe, Australia to North America. Each stop carries its own personality, history, and racing rhythm — but together they represent the highest level of marathon competition on the planet.

Here is the confirmed 2026 World Marathon Majors calendar:

Tokyo Marathon – March 1, 2026

Boston Marathon – April 20, 2026

London Marathon – April 26, 2026

Sydney Marathon – August 30, 2026

Berlin Marathon – September 27, 2026

Chicago Marathon – October 11, 2026

New York City Marathon – November 1, 2026

Seven races. Seven cities. One global championship narrative.

Season Opener in Asia

The series begins with the Tokyo Marathon on March 1. Known for its flat layout and disciplined organization, Tokyo has become a consistent stage for fast times and tactical early-season showdowns. Elite athletes often use Tokyo to set the tone for the year — and occasionally to chase course records.

April: Marathon Royalty Month

April remains the heart of the marathon calendar.

The Boston Marathon on April 20 returns to Patriots’ Day tradition. With its point-to-point course from Hopkinton to Boylston Street, Boston remains the ultimate test of racing intelligence, strength, and patience. You don’t just run Boston — you compete Boston.

Six days later, the London Marathon on April 26 brings a different dynamic: deep elite fields, aggressive pacing, and often the fastest head-to-head racing of the spring season. London has become a proving ground for Olympic champions, world record holders, and breakout stars alike.

The April double — Boston and London — continues to define legacies.

Sydney’s Growing Influence

The Sydney Marathon on August 30 strengthens the Majors’ global footprint. As the newest addition to the series, Sydney represents the expansion of the championship to Oceania and adds a late-summer championship feel before the traditional fall European and American races.

Its presence reshapes how athletes build their seasons. With Sydney now in the mix, the Majors truly span the globe.

Fall Speed Season

The Berlin Marathon on September 27 remains synonymous with world records. Its flat, fast course has witnessed some of the greatest performances in distance running history. If athletes are chasing the clock, Berlin is often the chosen battlefield.

Two weeks later, the Chicago Marathon on October 11 continues the speed theme. Chicago’s downtown course has produced extraordinary times and dramatic finishes. It blends American racing culture with global elite competition in one of the sport’s most electric settings.

The Grand Finale in New York

The New York City Marathon closes the 2026 series on November 1. Five boroughs, 26.2 miles, and more than two million spectators lining the course. New York is rarely about world records — it’s about resilience, atmosphere, and championship racing. It’s the ultimate test of strength over speed.

The hills of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and the roar in Central Park ensure that the season ends with drama. 

The Bigger Picture

The 2026 calendar highlights the evolution of the World Marathon Majors into a truly global championship. With seven events spanning three continents, the series now demands strategic planning from elite athletes and offers recreational runners the opportunity to pursue the coveted Six (now Seven) Star journey.

For professionals, the Majors series often determines annual rankings, sponsorship leverage, and historical standing. For age-groupers, it represents bucket-list achievement. For fans, it offers nearly nine months of high-level marathon drama.

From Tokyo’s precision to Boston’s grit, London’s speed, Sydney’s emergence, Berlin’s records, Chicago’s rhythm, and New York’s spectacle — the 2026 World Marathon Majors promise another unforgettable season.

The road to greatness is mapped out.

Now it’s time to run it.

A 20-year-old British runner has officially become the youngest person in history to complete all seven World Marathon Majors and earn the coveted Seven Star Medal, Abbott World Marathon Majors announced.

Lucy Scott, from Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire, completed the seven marathons over an 18-month stretch: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and Sydney. She secured the honor on November 2 when she crossed the finish line at the New York City Marathon, making her the “youngest Seven Star athlete” to date.

Scott, a history student at the University of Nottingham, only began running in 2024. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said.

Introduced in 2016, the Six Star Medal originally honored runners who completed the six established majors. The series expanded in November 2024 with the addition of the Sydney Marathon, creating the Seven Star Medal Scott has now earned.

Despite having no previous running experience, Scott took up the sport during her first year at university. Her debut marathon came in 2024 at the TCS London Marathon, where she raised £7,685 for The Essex Disabled Sport Foundation.

She credits her father, John Scott, as her inspiration. He had been pursuing the Six Star Medal before the Covid pandemic, but injuries prevented him from completing Tokyo and Boston. Lucy has since carried his dream forward, with her parents traveling the world to cheer her on at every finish line.

“I think they’ve loved the experience as much as I have,” she said.

Looking ahead, Scott plans to run her third London Marathon in April 2026—“if I can balance university and fundraising,” she noted. She also hopes to pursue the proposed Nine Star Medal, which Abbott World Marathon Majors is considering adding by including Cape Town and Shanghai.

“If I can get a place, I would love to do that,” she said.

Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan, two of the biggest names in distance running, will make their New York City Marathon debuts on November 2 after both raced the Sydney Marathon on August 31.

Kipchoge, the 40-year-old Kenyan icon, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the second-fastest marathoner in history with his 2:01:09 from Berlin in 2022. His last victory over the 26.2-mile distance came at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. Since then, his results have been mixed: 10th at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, a DNF at the Paris Olympic marathon, and sixth and ninth in London and Sydney this year. Remarkably, 2025 marks the first year of his marathon career in which he will line up for three marathons in a single calendar year.

Despite recent setbacks, Kipchoge’s career remains unmatched. He has won four of thekoopoo six long-standing World Marathon Majors—Berlin, Chicago, London, and Tokyo—leaving only Boston and New York City without victoriesok. He finished sixth in Boston in 2023. New York now offers him another chance to etch his name deeper into the sport’s most prestigious stages.

Dutch star Sifan Hassan, already an Olympic champion and one of the most versatile distance runners in history, will also make her New York debut. Known for her ability to dominate from 1500m on the track to the marathon on the roads, Hassan’s presence adds another layer of intrigue to a race that consistently delivers drama.

With both Kipchoge and Hassan in the field, the 2025 New York City Marathon promises to be one of the most anticipated races of the year, a true meeting of legends on one of the sport’s grandest stages.

Sydney, August 31, 2025 – The Sydney Marathon ushered in a new era today, joining the elite ranks of the Abbott World Marathon Majors with a race that delivered both record-breaking performances and unforgettable moments on the streets of Australia’s largest city.

Hassan Dominates the Women’s Race

Olympic champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands continued her dominance in the marathon with a commanding victory. Hassan crossed the finish line at the Sydney Opera House in 2:18:22, smashing the course record and becoming the first woman to dip under 2:20 on Australian soil.

Former world record holder Brigid Kosgei of Kenya claimed second place, while last year’s Sydney champion Workenesh Edesa of Ethiopia secured third. Hassan’s winning margin reflected her superior class and endurance, reinforcing her reputation as one of the greatest all-around distance runners in history.

Kiros Breaks Men’s Course Record

The men’s race was equally electrifying. Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros surged clear at the 30km markalongside compatriot Addisu Gobena before unleashing a decisive kick in the final stages. Kiros broke the tape in 2:06:06, the fastest marathon ever run on Australian soil.

Gobena, just 20 years old and competing in his fourth marathon, impressed with a 2:06:16 for second place, while Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho clocked 2:06:47 to finish third.

“The competition was very tough, this was a strong, strong field,” said Kiros, who finished fifth at the Berlin Marathon earlier this year.

Kipchoge Inspires at 40

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, celebrating his 40th birthday this year, showed his enduring spirit on the world stage. Although he was unable to keep pace when the Ethiopians surged, Kipchoge still battled through to finish ninth in 2:08:31.

For the man many consider the greatest marathoner of all time, the performance was a reminder that his mission extends beyond racing—to inspire, to unite, and to prove that running is a lifelong journey.

A Citywide Celebration

The marathon course highlighted Sydney’s most iconic landmarks, with the field of 35,000 runnersstreaming across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, winding through Centennial Park, and finishing against the stunning backdrop of the Opera House.

Perfect racing conditions—bright sunshine and cool temperatures—helped elevate performances and ensured Sydney made the most of its debut as a World Marathon Major, joining New York, London, Boston, Chicago, Tokyo, and Berlin in the sport’s most prestigious series.

Final Results at a Glance

Men

1. Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) – 2:06:06 (course record)

2. Addisu Gobena (ETH) – 2:06:16

3. Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) – 2:06:47

Women

1. Sifan Hassan (NED) – 2:18:22 (course record)

2. Brigid Kosgei (KEN) – ~2:18:56

3. Workenesh Edesa (ETH) – ~2:22:05

A Defining Moment

With new course records, thrilling competition, and global attention, the 2025 Sydney Marathonestablished itself as not just a spectacular race but also a cornerstone of the global marathon calendar. For elite athletes and everyday runners alike, Sydney delivered a day to remember.

Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has announced that she will not compete in the marathon at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.

The Dutch star explained her decision on Friday (Aug. 29, 2025), citing recovery concerns following her marathon schedule. “In two or three weeks, I don’t even know if I will have recovered,” Hassan said, noting that she “can hardly run in the days after a marathon.”

Instead, Hassan will shift her focus to Sunday’s Sydney Marathon, which will make its debut as part of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors. The Sydney event now joins the elite company of London, New York, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, and Chicago, further cementing its place among the most important marathon races in the world.

For Hassan, the decision underscores the physical and strategic challenges of balancing a championship calendar with the demands of the marathon. Known for her remarkable versatility on the track and the roads, she continues to shape her career by targeting races that define her legacy.

The absence of the reigning Olympic champion from the Tokyo World Championships marathon will be a significant storyline, but all eyes will now be on Sydney this weekend, where Hassan looks to etch her name in history at the newest member of the Marathon Majors.

The 2025 Sydney Marathon men’s field is stacked with talent rarely seen outside the World Marathon Majors. Thirteen men boast personal bests faster than the course record of 2:06:18, while nineteen have broken 2:07. The depth rivals Tokyo’s strongest lineups of recent years. On the start list are legends and rising stars alike: Eliud Kipchoge, Birhanu Legese, Dawit Wolde, Edward Cheserek, and Vincent Ngetich.

Kipchoge: The Legend at a Crossroads

Nothing new can be said about Eliud Kipchoge’s greatness — his 2:01:09 from Berlin 2022 remains the second-fastest marathon in history, and his body of work defines the modern era. Yet the past two seasons have tested him. Tenth in Tokyo 2024, a DNF at the Paris Olympics, and a weary fade in London 2025 seemed to confirm decline. But in London he fought back, refusing to surrender, and clawed his way to sixth in 2:05:25. For a 40-year-old, that was extraordinary.

Kipchoge is no longer racing under the crushing weight of expectation. Instead, he runs for inspiration — to show what resilience looks like. That makes him dangerous still. And it raises the question: could Sydney be the stage for one final act of brilliance?

The Challengers

Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia) – Fresh off victory in Xiamen 2025 (2:06:06, course record), the Olympian owns a 2:03:48 best. His confidence and consistency mark him as a serious contender.

Birhanu Legese (Ethiopia) – Twice a Tokyo champion (2019, 2020) and a proven 2:02:48 performer in Berlin, he brings the pedigree of a man who has already mastered Major moments.

Edward Cheserek (Kenya/USA) – “King Ches” ruled the NCAA with 17 titles before turning to the marathon. In just his second attempt he ran 2:05:24 in Valencia 2024, slashing nearly six minutes from his debut in New York. Rapid progression makes him the true wildcard.

Vincent Ngetich (Kenya) – At 26, he is the face of the new generation. His 2:03:13 debut in Berlin 2023 was the third-fastest debut in history. Since then, he has collected back-to-back podiums in Tokyo. Of all Sydney entrants, he alone has stood on a Major podium in the past two years. With youth, momentum, and speed, he starts as the man to beat.

Generations Collide

Sydney will be more than a race — it will be a clash of eras. On one side stands Kipchoge, the living legend who has carried the sport for two decades, searching for one last masterpiece. On the other, the hungry new wave led by Ngetich, ready to seize the crown.

On September race day, the streets of Sydney could bear witness to either a farewell triumph… or the dawn of a new reign.

Sydney, Australia – August 31, 2025

Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has officially been confirmed for the TCS Sydney Marathon, set to take place on August 31, 2025. The Dutch superstar, known for her unprecedented range and fierce finishing kick, will bring global attention to one of the fastest-rising races on the international calendar.

But Hassan won’t have the spotlight to herself.

She will face a formidable challenge from Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, the former marathon world record holder. Kosgei, who ran an astonishing 2:14:04 at the 2019 Chicago Marathon, is determined to reclaim her place at the top of women’s marathoning. With multiple major wins under her belt, including London and Chicago titles, Kosgei remains one of the most consistent and feared competitors in the sport.

This clash between two marathon titans promises to be one of the most compelling head-to-head matchups of the year. Hassan, who made a sensational marathon debut in 2023 and has since cemented herself as a serious contender at the distance, will look to further build her legacy. Meanwhile, Kosgei will aim to reassert her dominance and remind the world why she once redefined what was possible over 26.2 miles.

With the TCS Sydney Marathon bidding to become a World Marathon Major, this showdown adds star power and global significance to the 2025 edition.

My Best Runs will be tracking this race closely as the world watches two legends collide down under.

The 2025 Sydney Marathon just got even more exciting.

Already making global headlines with the announcement that world record holder Eliud Kipchoge ?? would headline the event, organizers have now confirmed that Dutch star Sifan Hassan ?? will also line up on Sunday, August 31.

This marks a major development in the race’s bid to join the World Marathon Majors circuit. By bringing together two of the sport’s biggest names, Sydney is positioning itself as one of the must-watch marathons of the year.

Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic marathon gold medalist and widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, will be running on Australian soil for the first time. Meanwhile, Hassan, the reigning London Marathon champion and one of the most versatile distance runners in history—with Olympic medals in the 1500m, 5000m, and 10,000m—is looking to build on her marathon legacy.

Both Kipchoge and Hassan bring massive global attention to any race they enter. Their participation is not only a coup for Sydney but also a sign of the growing competitiveness of international marathon events outside the traditional six majors.

The 2025 edition of the Sydney Marathon promises to be one of the most watched marathons of the year.

Stay tuned for more updates as the elite field continues to build.

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has officially confirmed his participation in the 2025 Sydney Marathon, set for August 31. This marks the first time the Kenyan great will compete in Oceania, a significant milestone in his illustrious career.

The Sydney Marathon, which is in contention to become the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major, gains immense prestige with Kipchoge’s inclusion. Organizers expect over 300,000 spectators, making it one of the biggest marathon events in Australia’s history.

Kipchoge’s Legacy and Why Sydney Matters

With 16 victories in 21 official marathons, Kipchoge is widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time. His historic achievements include:

• Back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the marathon at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

• A 10-marathon win streak from 2014 to 2019, a feat unmatched in modern distance running.

• A world-first sub-two-hour marathon, clocking 1:59:40 at the INEOS 1:59 Challengein 2019 (not an official record due to controlled conditions).

• The second-fastest marathon ever recorded, 2:01:09 at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.

With the Sydney Marathon aiming for World Major status, Kipchoge’s participation signals the event’s growing significance in the global running calendar. Race Director Wayne Lardencalled it a dream come true, emphasizing the impact Kipchoge’s presence will have on Australia’s running community.

The Road to Sydney: London Marathon First

Before taking on Sydney, Kipchoge is set to compete in the London Marathon on April 27, 2025. London has been one of his most successful races, and his performance there will be closely watched as he continues to chase new milestones.

A Race That Will Inspire a Nation

Kipchoge’s presence in Sydney is expected to elevate the marathon’s status, attract elite competitors, and inspire thousands of runners. Known for his mantra, “No human is limited,” his participation will shine a global spotlight on Sydney, drawing both elite athletes and everyday runners to the race.

As August 31 approaches, all eyes will be on Sydney to see if the greatest marathoner of all timecan add another historic victory to his legacy.

The Tokyo Marathon 2025, set for Sunday, March 2, promises to be a thrilling contest as some of the world’s fastest distance runners converge on one of the flattest and fastest courses in the marathon circuit. As the opening race of the expanded Abbott World Marathon Majors series, now featuring seven races with the addition of the Sydney Marathon, Tokyo will set the tone for the global marathon season.

The men’s field features a star-studded lineup, headlined by Benson Kipruto of Kenya, who returns to defend his title after setting a Japanese all-comers record of 2:02:16 last year. Kipruto, known for his tactical racing style and strong finishing kick, will face fierce competition from Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, the world record holder in the 5000m and 10000m. Cheptegei’s marathon debut has generated significant buzz, as he transitions from dominating the track to testing his endurance over 42.195 kilometers. Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta, who clocked an impressive 2:02:38 in Valencia last year, is another serious contender. Meanwhile, Japan’s Akira Akasaki and Yohei Ikeda, both fresh from breakthrough performances in 2024, will look to shine on home soil and challenge the international elites.

On the women’s side, Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede returns after her dominant win in Tokyo last year, where she clocked 2:15:55—the fastest time ever run on Japanese soil. She’ll face stiff competition from Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru, the 2023 Tokyo Marathon champion, and Brigid Kosgei, the former world record holder and 2022 Tokyo winner. Ethiopia’s rising stars Tigist Ketema, who claimed victory in Berlin last fall, and Hawi Feysa, winner of the Frankfurt Marathon, add further intrigue to an already stacked field. Japan’s Ai Hosoda, with a personal best of 2:20:31 from Berlin, and Yuka Ando, the 2024 Nagoya Women’s Marathon champion, will be eager to make an impact in front of their home crowd.

The Tokyo Marathon course offers a scenic and historically rich route through the heart of Japan’s capital. Starting at the towering Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, runners will weave through iconic districts such as Asakusa, Ginza, and Ueno. The course includes long, flat stretches with minimal turns, creating ideal conditions for fast times. The final kilometers will lead runners past Tokyo Tower and along the Imperial Palace moat, culminating near Tokyo Station on Gyoko-dori Avenue. Known for its efficiency and vibrant atmosphere, Tokyo’s marathon route consistently attracts runners chasing personal bests and national records.

While the official prize structure for the 2025 edition has not yet been announced, historical trends suggest a total purse of around 40.3 million Japanese Yen (approximately $286,000 USD). Both the men’s and women’s champions are expected to earn 11 million Yen each (approximately $78,100 USD), with additional payouts for podium finishes and record-breaking performances. Special awards will also be presented to top finishers in the semi-elite and university-affiliated categories, ensuring a broad distribution of recognition across all competitive levels.

Beyond the competition itself, the Tokyo Marathon is known for its electric atmosphere and world-class organization. Thousands of volunteers and enthusiastic spectators line the streets, while the pre-race expo offers participants and visitors a chance to engage with brands, explore new running gear, and celebrate the spirit of the sport. The race also continues its commitment to sustainability and inclusivity, with initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact and promoting running as a global community sport.

As the countdown to race day continues, all eyes will be on Tokyo to see who emerges victorious in what promises to be an unforgettable showdown of endurance, strategy, and speed. For elite runners, Tokyo offers not just a chance to claim victory but to set the tone for the year ahead in the ever-competitive world of distance running.

Ruti Aga and Dawit Wolde achieved an Ethiopian double at the C&D Xiamen Marathon, both athletes setting course records to win the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (5).

Aga and Wolde were the fastest athletes in their respective fields and Aga won the women’s race in 2:18:46, claiming a dominant victory ahead of her compatriot Gutemi Shone Imana in 2:23:11, while Wolde secured the men’s title in 2:06:06 ahead of Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana, who ran a national record of 2:06:18.

Aga lined up as the Chinese all-comers' record-holder thanks to the PB of 2:18:09 she set in Dongying in 2023. The 30-year-old now owns the two fastest women’s marathon performances ever achieved in China, as she was just 37 seconds off that mark in Xiamen.

It was a return to winning ways for the 2019 Tokyo Marathon champion, who won the Daegu Marathon last April and then was runner-up in the Sydney Marathon in September.

Her time of 2:18:46 improved the previous course record by more than a minute. That course record of 2:19:52 had been set by Aga’s compatriot Mare Dibaba in 2015, the year in which she became the world marathon champion in Beijing.

Dibaba was also part of the field in Xiamen on Sunday and this time she ran 2:27:49 to finish fifth.

Behind Aga and Shone, Fikrte Wereta Admasu completed an Ethiopian sweep of the podium as she was third in 2:23:15, while Kenya’s Mercy Jerop Kwambai was fourth in 2:23:58.

While Aga was joined only by pacemakers in the final stages of the women’s race, Wolde still had three athletes for company as the men’s race reached the 40km mark.

But he managed to move away from his rivals to eventually claim a 12-second victory. Behind Wolde and Ramakongoana was Ethiopia’s defending champion Asefa Boki Kebebe, third in 2:06:32. His compatriot Chalu Deso Gelmisa was fourth in 2:06:45.

Ramakongoana’s performance took 1:40 off the national record he had set when finishing seventh at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has recently made significant strides in its journey to join the international Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) series after the 2024 edition met the criteria set out by the AbbottWMM team.

Cape Town will now proceed to the second stage of the candidacy process in its attempt to join the series when it stages its next marathon on October 19, 2025. If it is successful, the race would join the Majors in 2026. This follows the recent addition of the TCS Sydney Marathon, which was announced as the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major event and will take place as a Major on August 31, 2025.

Current AbbottWMM events are: Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, TCS New York City Marathon and most recently the TCS Sydney Marathon.

“Cape Town has continued its impressive progress since joining the candidacy process, and we are thrilled that it has now met all of our criteria for the first time,” said AbbottWMM CEO, Dawna Stone.

“We know how much the city, the country and the whole continent want the race to become Africa’s first Major, and they have taken a great step in the right direction.”

Behind the scenes, Infront’s partnership with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, which got under way in 2021, has helped to support the event’s application.

Hans-Peter Zurbruegg, Senior Vice President Active Lifestyle at Infront, said “Meeting the AbbottWMM criteria in 2024 for the first time reflects a true milestone on the journey to making our vision of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon becoming part of the AbbottWMM Series as Africa’s first Major a reality.

“Sanlam Cape Town marathon will capture the imaginations of a global running community with its unique African spirit and the unlimited touristic offers that the area of Cape and South Africa as a country has to offer.

“This milestone is the result of the enormous efforts made by the local Cape Town marathon team, and the close partnership with all stakeholders involved that all share the same vision and want to shape the future of running, putting Cape Town as a city and Africa as a continent onto the world map of running.”

The next Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Africa’s only World Athletics Gold Label marathon, will take place on Sunday, October 19, 2025. As one of the continent’s most prestigious marathons, it offers participants a scenic route through Cape Town’s landmarks, showcasing its scenery and cultural heritage.

In 2024, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon achieved a milestone by successfully passing stage one of the rigorous Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) evaluation process. It now sets its sights on passing stage 2 in 2025, as it strives to become Africa’s first Major.

The marathon weekend also features a range of events, including the 10km and 5km Peace Runs and the 44km Trail Marathon, 22km Trail, and 11km Trail on Saturday, October 18, 2025. These events cater to runners of all abilities, whether on the road or trail.

The official expo, where participants can collect their race packs and explore various running products, will be held at the DHL Stadium fon October 16-18 October 2025.

With the support of our title sponsor Sanlam, alongside partners such as adidas and the City of Cape Town, the event continues to attract top-tier athletes and running enthusiasts from around the world.

The Sydney Marathon has been added as the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major, marking it as the first new addition since Tokyo in 2013 and promising to elevate global recognition and participation in Australian marathon running.

The Sydney Marathon has been added to the list of Abbott World Marathon Majors, becoming the first city to join the prestigious lineup since Tokyo 11 years ago.

Sydney started the bid some years back but the organisers of the marathon and the city had to go through certain processes and make changes to join the other six majors. They include the London Marathon, Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin and Tokyo Marathons.

In Oceania, the Sydney Marathon is the largest race over the 42km distance. The marathon also registered record numbers, 20,272, at this year’s edition of the event. Next year’s event will be held on August 31 and the marathon will be hosted as a World Marathon Major, attracting world-class athletes and gaining enough recognition.

Abbott World Marathon Major CEO Dawna Stone expressed his excitement following the addition of the Sydney Marathon to the list. He disclosed that the relevant stakeholders have been working around the clock and they for sure deserve such recognition.

“I am thrilled that Sydney will become the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major. The team in Sydney has been working towards this day, every day, for more than three years, and to see the improvement in their operations and event experience to the point where we can now call them a major has been deeply impressive,” said Abbott WMM CEO Dawna Stone.

“We cannot wait to see our community embrace this race as a Major and start planning their visits to run the streets of one of the finest cities in the world. Runners, your Sydney star awaits.”

The current six-star medal will remain for those striving to complete the original races but later on, there could be a nine-star medal, with two other marathons looking to become World Marathon Majors races.

“Becoming the seventh Abbott World Marathon is just incredible for the event, the city of Sydney and the State of New South Wales. We could not have achieved the incredible growth and uplift in delivery to make it into the Majors if it wasn’t for the support of the NSW Government and Destination NSW plus our key partners TCS and ASICS,” said Wayne Larden, race director of the Sydney Marathon.

“Our team is rated and has put in so much work to make this happen. It is really special for all of us. This amazing milestone is going to have a profound impact on running in Australia, inspiring the community to become marathoners and do something special for themselves, their families and friends. Community health will benefit alongside a huge increase in fundraising.”

Shanghai International Marathon joins Sydney and Cape Town as candidates to become the seventh world major.

On Thursday, Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) announced that China’s Shanghai Marathon will be the newest race to join the majors candidacy process. Shanghai replaces the (previously nominated) Chengdu Marathon, joining the TCS Sydney Marathon and the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in a bid to become the seventh marathon major.

This announcement marks the beginning of Abbott WMM’s multi-year evaluation process for Shanghai. To become a WMM, the race must meet specific criteria for participation, organization, certification, sustainability and legacy for two consecutive years over the next three years.

If successful, Shanghai will join an elite group of races—Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon—as a new member of the prestigious AbbottWMM series, as early as 2027.

AbbottWMM’s decision to potentially expand into China reflects its aim to explore and grow in one of the biggest and fastest-growing running markets worldwide.

AbbottWMM CEO Dawna Stone said in a press release, “This presents an exciting opportunity to expand our impact into Asia and further our mission to create, grow, and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community.”

For more than a decade, the Shanghai International Marathon, held in late November since 1996, has been categorized as a Platinum Label Road Race by World Athletics. 

The course is flat and fast, and showcases the city’s most scenic and iconic landmarks. Last year, the Shanghai Marathon weekend attracted more than 30,000 participants across all distances. The 2024 Shanghai Marathon will take place on Sunday, Dec. 1.

Besty Saina, the fastest American marathoner this year, is racing in the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Saina set a new marathon personal best in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, running 2:19:17 and taking gold. Her time represents the third-fastest time in American history and the fastest this year.

Saina, 36, has won four of her last six races, including the River Bank 25-kilometer run, the Sydney Marathon (2:26:47), the USA 25-kilometer Championship (1:24:32) and the Seville Half Marathon (1:08:23).

She didn't initially take to the marathon distance in her career. She dropped out of her first two attempts in 2017. In her third attempt at the 2018 Paris Marathon, she won, running 2:22:56.

Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa and Kenya’s Brimin Misoi made significant improvements on the course records at the TCS Sydney Marathon, winning the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in 2:21:40 and 2:06:17 respectively.

Edesa took almost three minutes off the previous course record in a race where the top four women finished inside Stella Barsosio’s former mark of 2:24:33, set five years ago.

A group of seven women ran together through the first 10km in 33:44, putting them on course record pace from the outset. Just four women – Edesa, Valary Jemeli Aiyabei, Ruti Aga and 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebreslase – remained in the lead pack as the half-way point was reached in 1:11:11.

The quartet ran together for another six or seven kilometres before Edesa and Aga made a break. The Ethiopian duo reached 30km in 1:41:16 with a 16-second lead over Gebreslase. Aga was next to fade, leaving Edesa as the sole leader.

The Ethiopian had a 22-second lead at 35km and was picking up the pace as the race went on. She reached the finish line in 2:21:40, 89 seconds ahead of Aga. Gebreslase completed the Ethiopian sweep in third with 2:24:16.

The men’s race set out at a steady pace with a large lead pack going through 10km in 29:58, inside course record schedule. By the time the half-way point was reached in 1:03:13, just four men remained in the lead group – Misoi, Geoffrey Toroitich, Ezra Tanui and Chalu Deso Gelmisa – while four or five other runners were strung out behind.

By 30km, reached in 1:29:49, Leul Gebresilase had joined the leaders to form a quintent, but they only ran together for a few kilometres before Misoi forged on ahead. The Kenyan got to 35km in 1:44:41, still comfortably inside course record pace, with a 53-second lead over Kirwa. Tanui and Toroitich, meanwhile, dropped out.

He continued to extend his lead through the closing stages and reached the finish line in 2:06:17, taking 46 seconds off the course record set two years ago by compatriot Moses Kibet. Gelmisa was a distant runner-up in 2:08:01, just ahead of Kirwa (2:08:17).

World Marathon Majors will add a seventh race to its elite series if all goes well at the biggest marathon field assembled in Australia to race 42 kilometres across the streets of Sydney on Sunday. 

If the Sydney Marathon meets the WMM requirements for the second year in a row, it will join the ranks of long-staRace director Wayne Larden declared: “We’re prepared, we’re ready. All of our plans look good on paper, I feel we’re ticking all the boxes. So we’ve just got to go out there now and deliver the event as per the plans and I’m sure we’ll meet the criteria.” 

Larden has been the event director since 2005, when there were 2,300 finishers. Since then, he has let the number of runners grow to 25,000, who will compete on a course that has been redesigned. He added: “It’s taken me 18 years to build it to 5,000 and two years to get it to 25,000… So the trajectory has been very steep in the last two years since we became a candidate race, because there’s a lot of excitement about the world majors being in Sydney.” 

With the field so large and the new start location—North Sydney Oval, the site of the 2000 Olympic marathon—the goal may be a little more challenging for Larden and his team, but he is optimistic they can pull it off.

“I’m feeling confident, but it’s a big event and anything can happen. But I think we’re well prepared for it… I will pretty well know on race day how we’ve gone, based on our plans and how we’ve delivered them,” Larden remarked.ndiLondon, Boston, Berlin, and Chicago, becoming the first to do since Tokyo in 2013. 

Ethiopia’s 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebreslase and her compatriot Leul Gebresilase, the 2023 world bronze medalist, feature in the fields for the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on Sunday (15).

Gebreslase is a two-time world marathon medalist, having added silver in Budapest to the gold she gained in Oregon, while she won the Berlin Marathon in 2021 and finished third in the New York and Tokyo marathons in 2022.

The 29-year-old ran her PB of 2:18:11 in Oregon and 2:18:18 in Tokyo, and earlier this year she clocked 2:21:19 to finish third in Hamburg.

But Gebreslase is set to face a strong challenge, with four other sub-2:20 runners on the entry list. Her compatriot Tadu Teshome is fastest of them all with the PB of 2:17:36 she set when finishing fourth in Valencia in 2022. In 2023 she raced three marathons, finishing fifth in Chicago, sixth in Shanghai and eighth in London. In June she set a 10km PB of 31:13 in Durban.

Joining them are Ethiopia’s Ruti Aga and Buzunesh Getachew, plus Kenya’s Judith Jeptum Korir, who secured world silver behind Gebreslase in Oregon two years ago.

Aga won the Tokyo Marathon in 2019 and more recently finished second in Dubai in January in a PB-equaling 2:18:09 and first in Daegu in 2:21:07. Getachew set her PB of 2:19:27 when winning in Frankfurt last October, while Korir’s career best is the 2:18:20 she ran in Oregon. She went on to finish fourth in the London Marathon that year in 2:18:43 but did not finish when racing the Boston Marathon earlier this year.

Also entered are Kenya’s Viola Kibiwot, Sharon Chelimo and Beatrice Cheptoo, plus Japan’s Mao Uesugi.

Gebresilase is the fastest in the men’s field, thanks to the PB of 2:04:02 he set in Dubai in 2018. Since then he has become a global medallist, getting bronze in Budapest in 2023, the same year in which he finished fourth in the London Marathon. He ran 1:01:24 for the half marathon in Ras Al Khaimah in February but did not finish on his return to London in April.

In Sydney he faces three other sub-2:05 runners and another seven who have dipped under 2:08. His compatriot Chalu Deso is a strong contender, as he ran 2:04:53 in Valencia in 2020 and more recently won the Tokyo Marathon in March last year in 2:05:22. He raced the Paris Marathon in April, clocking 2:07:39.

Ethiopia’s Haftu Teklu ran 2:04:42 when finishing fifth in Berlin last year, while Kenya’s Brimin Kipkorir Misoi won the Frankfurt Marathon last October in a PB of 2:04:53.

They will line up alongside Ethiopia’s Tafese Delelegn and Tadu Abate, who finished third in Berlin in 2022, plus Kenya’s Laban Korir, Reuben Kerio and Michael Mugo Githae, and Japan’s Hidekazu Hijikata and Tetsuya Yoroizaka.

The 2022 World Marathon silver medalist Judith Korir is set to rekindle her rivalry with the 2022 World Champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia at the Sydney Marathon on September 15.

During their last meeting at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Gebreslase edged out Korir by nine seconds to claim the title in a course-record time of 2:18:11. Israel’s Lonah Chemtai was third in 2:20:18.

Race organizers have touted this year’s lineup as one of the most competitive as athletes eye glory in one of Australia’s most iconic cities.

“The calibre of athletes participating this year is a testament to Sydney’s allure as a world-class marathon destination. We’re excited to witness these extraordinary competitors race through our new course, against the backdrop of our iconic city,” said Sydney Marathon race director, Wayne Larden.

Korir, 28, takes a wealth of experience and success to Sydney, having won the 2022 Paris Marathon (2:19:48), 2021 Abu Dhabi Marathon (2:22:30) and Lugano Half Marathon (1:06:25), 2019 Venice Marathon (2:29:21) and the 2020 Izmir Marathon (2:33:59).

She finished sixth at last year’s London Marathon (2:20:41) and settled for fourth at the 2022 edition (2:18:43).

Gebreslase is a world marathon silver medalist from last year’s championships in Budapest, Hungary, in a time of 2:24:34, behind compatriot Amane Beriso (2:24:23) and ahead of Morocco’s Fatima Ezzahra (2:25:17).

The Ethiopian has victories from the 2021 Berlin Marathon (2:20:09) and the 2021 Bahrain Half Marathon (1:05:36).

At last year’s Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, she finished second in 1:05:51. She has finished third at the Hamburg Marathon (2:21:19), the 2022 Tokyo Marathon (2:18:18), 2022 New York Marathon (2:23:39) and the 2022 Liboa Half Marathon (1:07:11).

Korir will be joined by a formidable group of compatriots including Beatrice Cheptoo, the 2022 Istanbul Marathon champion, Rotterdam Marathon runner-up Viola Kibiwot and Sharon Chelimo, third place finisher at last year’s Frankfurt Marathon.

Two-time Frankfurt Marathon champion Brimin Kipkorir spearheads the Kenyan charge in the men's race.

Kipkorir bagged the 2022 Frankfurt title in 2:06:11 and defended it last year in a personal best of 2:04:53.

The 35-year-old is a two-time Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon champion — 2017 (2:12:39) and 2019 (2:10:43).

He will be joined by Fukuoka Marathon champion Michael Mugo, 2017 Rotterdam Marathon third-place finisher Laban Korir and three-time Kosice Marathon winner Reuben Kerio.

They will face stiff competition from Ethiopia’s Leul Gebresilase, the 2022 world marathon bronze medalist, Seoul Marathon third-place finisher Haftu Teklu and last year’s Tokyo Marathon champion Deso Gelmisa. 

As we inch toward the fall road racing season, the 2024 Chicago Marathon is the first Abbott World Marathon Major (AWMM) to announce its men’s and women’s elite list. Last year’s elite races in Chicago saw two course records and one world record set by the late Kelvin Kiptum—something that will be hard to beat. But the 2024 field does not lack talent or potential, with former world champion and fourth-fastest marathoner in history Ruth Chepngetich headlining the women’s field and world 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo making his marathon debut in the men’s field.

The men’s race

Ebenyo has had a successful career on the track, winning multiple medals at World Championships and Commonwealth Games, but never individual gold. He is currently ranked by World Athletics as the top 10,000m runner in the world, holding a personal best of 26:57.80, which he set in 2023. The 28-year-old was not selected for the 10,000m by the Kenyan Olympic team for Paris 2024 after an eighth-place finish at the Kenyan Trials.

Although the Kenyan star has had success on the track, he has also flourished in his short career on the roads, winning silver in the half-marathon at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia. He holds a personal best of 59:04 for the half distance and a world best over 25 km (1:11:13).

Ebenyo’s potential over 42.2 km will be hard to predict; many people had high expectations for three-time world 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, but he struggled in his marathon debut last December in Valencia, clocking 2:08:59 for 37th place.

Joining Ebenyo in the men’s field is 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto, who has the fastest personal best in the field (2:03:13 from the 2022 Tokyo Marathon). Kipruto has podiumed at three of the six AWMMs and is known as one of the best tactical marathoners in the world. Chicago will be Kipruto’s first marathon since his seventh-place finish in Berlin last year.

The lone Canadian in the men’s field is Phil Parrot-Migas of London, Ont. This will be the third marathon of his career. He holds a personal best of 2:15:53, set in Hamburg in April.

The women’s field

At the 2022 Chicago Marathon, Chepngetich was on a world-record pace until the final kilometre, ultimately missing it by 14 seconds (2:14:18). This capped off her second-straight Chicago victory, following in the footsteps of her compatriot, Brigid Kosgei. Last year, Chepngetich was second to Sifan Hassan’s course record-setting run, in 2:15:37. Her personal best is the fastest in the field by a minute and a half, and with her experience on the flat and fast course, she’s going to be a tough athlete to beat come Oct. 13.

Besides Chepngetich, there’s a strong American contingent, consisting of three of the country’s top five fastest marathoners: Keira D’Amato, Sara Hall and Betsy Saina. D’Amato had a rough go at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, and was unable to finish, due to injury. Months later, she announced a coaching change and a planned move to Utah to train under distance running guru Ed Eyestone, the coach of U.S. Olympic marathoners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young. D’Amato, who will turn 40 in October, told Runner’s World she made the switch because she wanted a different perspective on her training and a chance to learn from someone new.

Saina comes into the race as the strongest American athlete, placing in the top five of her last three marathons, including a win at the 2023 Sydney Marathon. Sydney is currently a candidate to be added as the seventh AWMM, joining Tokyo, Berlin, London, Boston, Chicago and NYC.

The Kenyan road runner was nabbed with prohibited substances in her system and will pay dearly for her second infraction.

The Athletics Integrity Unit has slapped Josephine Chepkoech with a seven-year ban for the the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone) from May 7, 2024.

Chepkoech’s results from February 18 this year have also been disqualified. The 2019 Geneva Marathon champion was provisionally suspended by the AIU on May 9, 2024, being served with a Notice of Allegation for violating Article 2.1 and Article 2.2 of its anti-doping regulations.

The AIU explained that on February 18, Chepkoech provided a urine sample during her competition at the Seville Marathon where she finished second in the race and after her urine was tested, it was found to have substances banned by the World Athletics Anti-doping Agency.

It was further noted that the athlete was not exempted from the use of the substance, popularly known as the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

The athlete accepted the ruling but this was the second time she had found herself on the wrong side of the law, having violated the anti-doping rules. She had previously served a period of ineligibility for two years from 2015 to 2017.

The athlete was required to serve a ban of eight years but after she accepted the ruling and responded in good time, she will serve the ban for seven years.

Meanwhile, Chepkoech made her marathon debut in 2018 at the Nairobi Marathon, dominating the women's race and winning in a time of 2:33:11. Last season, she competed in the Chengdu Marathon and ended up finishing fifth.

She has enjoyed a great marathon running career after her debut, where she finished second in both the 2019 Sydney Marathon and Zurich Marathon. In 2020, she finished fourth in the Zurich Marathon before her two marathons in 2023 and 2024.

For much of last year, Betsy Saina had a plan. She would race the Chicago Marathon in October, eager to run alongside Emma Bates (who placed fifth at last year’s Boston Marathon in a new personal best of 2:22:10) in pursuit of breaking Emily Sisson’s American record of 2:18:29, set the previous year at that same race.

Saina, 35, a naturalized U.S. citizen who represented Kenya in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro—she placed fifth in the 10,000 meters 30:07.78—had reason to be confident. Last spring, she set a new personal best of 2:21:40 with her fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Marathon, which wound up being the fastest marathon by an American woman in 2023 and made her the eighth-fastest U.S. female marathoner of all-time, solidifying her position as a top U.S. Olympic marathon team contender.

The Chicago Marathon had assured Saina’s agent, Tom Broadbent, that she was in for the race. But when the elite field was announced in August, Saina learned she had not been accepted, which not only threw a wrench in her fall training plans, but made for a lot of stress as she was planning her U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials buildup.

“I was shocked and spent three days looking at myself and trying to find any mistakes I made to not make the field, especially after running 2:21 in Tokyo,” Saina says. “I had never been rejected from a race before, and never got a response or an explanation as to why I didn’t make it. Being denied to run in Chicago honestly was one of the most disappointing things I’ve experienced in my career.”

Saina looked into entering the Berlin Marathon the following month, but had no such luck getting in with it being so late in the game. She was ultimately accepted into the Sydney Marathon (which shares its sponsor, ASICS, with Saina) on September 16. Unlike Chicago—with its fast, flat course that ended up having ideal racing conditions with temperatures in the 40s—Sydney has a hilly course and race-day weather was on the hotter side, with a starting temperature of 68 degrees.

Despite the conditions, Saina proved herself once again, winning the race in 2:26:47. This sealed her confidence as she began to look ahead to the Olympic Trials in Orlando on February 3. If she’s one of the top three finishers in the women’s race in Florida, she’ll earn a spot on the U.S. team that will compete in the marathon at the Paris Olympics on August 11.

“Challenges make people strong, and running a good marathon on a harder course made me come back feeling motivated,” she says. “[Even though it wasn’t the faster time I originally wanted], it didn’t stop me from being a better version of myself.”

Transcendent Transplant

Despite her impressive performances in 2023, Saina has remained largely under the radar in terms of media coverage and fan predictions leading up to the Trials in Orlando, similarly to what fellow Kenyan-born marathoners Aliphine Tuliamuk and Sally Kipyego (both of whom made the last Olympic marathon team) experienced in 2020. The lack of attention relative to her competitors hasn’t fazed Saina, however.

“I know how to deal with pressure, having been in the sport since 2013, so as long as my training is going well, I don’t pay too much attention to what people say,” Saina says. “I’m just more excited to see many of the U.S. women [who are also] my friends, like Emily Sisson, Sara Hall, and Keira D’Amato, and to be racing so many amazing U.S. athletes for the first time.”

Saina’s result in Tokyo was only about a minute faster than her debut at the distance at the 2018 Paris Marathon, which she won in 2:22:56 (after dropping out of the 2017 Tokyo and New York City Marathons). It was also a confidence boost for Saina because it was also her first marathon since giving birth to her son, Kalya, now two, in December 2021, after previously running 2:22:43 and 2:31:51 at the 2019 Toronto Waterfront and Honolulu Marathons, respectively.

Saina—who originally came to the U.S. to attend Iowa State University where she trained alongside Tuliamuk and was a three-time individual NCAA champion and 11-time NCAA All-American—has remained in her hometown of Iten, Kenya, for the majority of the time since having her son, as her husband, Meshack Korir, is a doctor completing his postgraduate education there.

Although Saina became a U.S. citizen in late 2020 and has a home base in Colorado Springs, she made the decision to return to Kenya to have additional family support and childcare as she worked to come back from pregnancy and childbirth to prepare for the Olympic Trials, which she’ll return for just a few days before the race. Saina also keeps busy managing a couple of guesthouses, which she regularly rents out to visiting athletes and tourists. She also works with Cross World Africa, a nonprofit that sponsors underprivileged children in pursuing secondary and higher education.

“Before I came from Kenya, my family was struggling and we had to fundraise for my flight ticket to come to the U.S. Being here has changed my family in a different way—I have two sisters who are now nurses in the U.S., and my parents can now more easily fly to visit us, and while it is not where I began running, the U.S. where I began competing at such a high level,” she says. “My son also gives me so much motivation and is my inspiration. When I see him, I see beauty in myself and see myself getting better when I’m running. So I am excited both to compete and represent my son, and to hopefully wear the U.S. uniform because it has so much meaning for me.”

Back in Iten, Saina has been training in a group with personal pacemakers alongside 2019 New York City Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei, which she describes as game-changing for her progress in the marathon. Both Saina and Jepkosgei, who is also the former world-record holder in the half marathon and Saina’s best friend from high school, are coached by Jepkosgei’s husband, Nicholas Koech.

“Sometimes you will train with people who don’t want to help someone else get better, but [Jepkosgei], who has run 1:04 [in the half marathon] and 2:17 [in the marathon] is unique in that she has sacrificed a lot, which I don’t think a lot of women will ever do for each other, and I don’t think I would either,” Saina says. “But she has been pushing me a lot since the first day I joined her, and I think that’s the reason I came back and I’ve had better races. I have someone to chase and it’s like competition in training, but in a good way.”

American Original

Saina returned to the U.S. twice last year, to race the USATF 25K Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan, (where she took the win in 1:24:32 for her first U.S. title, narrowly beating D’Amato) and to be inducted into Iowa State’s Athletics Hall of Fame in September. Saina had planned to do some shorter U.S. races, including the Bolder Boulder 10K in May and the NYRR Mini 10K in June, following her national championship title in the 25K. However, she ultimately decided she couldn’t bear to be away from her son any longer.

“As a mom, when you’re away, you are so worried because you’re like, ‘How is he doing right now? How can I handle the pressure, being away from him?’” Saina says. “This year, it’s really different for me because the only race I want to travel to without Kalya is the Olympic Trials. He is growing now and getting better, so I want to travel with him afterward to compete in the USATF circuit. That’s the biggest goal for 2024, to travel with my son.”

Later this year, Saina hopes to also run the April 7 Cherry Blossom 10-Miler in Washington, D.C., the Mini 10K on June 8 in New York City, and a fast spring half marathon to pursue the current American record (which was broken yet again by Weini Kelati on January 14 in Houston), before running another marathon in the fall. In the meantime, she noted that she is especially eager to compete in one of the deepest fields ever assembled for the Trials.

Although Bates withdrew from the Trials, Saina figures to be one of the favorites in Orlando along with Sisson, Hall, Tuliamuk, D’Amato, and Seidel. However, Lindsay Flanagan (ninth in last summer’s world championships), Sara Vaughn, Susanna Sullivan, Gabriella Rooker, Dakotah Lindwurm, and Nell Rojas are all sub-2:25 marathoners, and thus top contenders, too.

“The U.S. is no longer small and non-competitive. Look at Molly Seidel. She got bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, and I remember when Amy [Cragg] was a bronze medalist at the 2017 World Championships. If you put that in perspective, it has changed even more right now compared to that time,” she says. “The competition [to make the U.S. team] is no longer as easy as the way some people [thought], and I’m super excited to be competing with a lot of solid women. There is no difference between the U.S. and other countries right now—it’s not just to go compete at the Olympics; they’re going to compete for the medals, just like other countries.”

In what is becoming an annual tradition, Weini Kelati ran 66:25 on Sunday to break the American record at the 2024 Aramco Houston Half Marathon. It was the third straight year the record was broken in Houston as the 27-year-old Kelati, making her half marathon debut, followed in the footsteps of Sara Hall (67:15 in 2022) and Emily Sisson (66:52 in 2023) to become a record-breaker in Houston. Sunday marked the third time the record had been broken in the past year as Keira D’Amatolowered Sisson’s record to 66:39 at the Asics Half Marathon in Australia in July.

Kelati finished 4th overall as Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede, a late addition to the women’s field, upset Hellen Obiri to win in 64:37, a US all-comers record that moves her into a tie for 9th on the all-time list. The time was a pb of more than three minutes for Kebede, who was previously best known for finishing 3rd at the 2020 Tokyo Marathon and running 2:18:12 at the 2022 Seoul Marathon. Obiri, who was with Kebede through 10k (30:28) faded over the second half and wound up a distant 2nd in 66:07.

The men’s race came down to a five-man sprint finish with Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer, who won in Houston in 2020 and was 4th at the World Half Marathon Championships in October, prevailing in 60:42. Wesley Kiptoo of NAZ Elite and Kenya was 2nd for the second straight year in 60:43 with 2022 champ Milkesa Mengeshaof Ethiopia 3rd in 60:45.

Biya Simbassa was the top American man in 60:45 in 4th, just ahead of a resurgent Diego Estrada, who led for the first 20 minutes and finished 5th in a pb of 60:49. Galen Rupp, tuning up for the Olympic Marathon Trials three weeks from now, hung back from the leaders and finished 14th in 62:37.

In the Chevron Houston Marathon, contested simultaneously, former NAIA star Zouhair Talbi of Morocco won the men’s race in 2:06:39 to boost his chances of Olympic selection. 2016 NCAA XC champion Patrick Tiernan, now training as part of Alistair and Amy Cragg’s Puma Elite Running team in North Carolina, was 4th in 2:07:45, hitting the Olympic standard and moving to #2 on the all-time Australian marathon list.

Ethiopia’s Rahma Tusa, the runner-up behind American Betsy Saina in September’s Sydney Marathon, won the women’s marathon in Houston in 2:19:33.

The races featured temperatures in the low 40s with 10 mph winds and gusts up to 17 mph, which made for a challenging end to the half marathon as miles 9, 10, and 11 were run directly into the teeth of the wind.

Below, six takeaways from the day’s racing in Houston.

2024 Houston Half Marathon men’s top 51. 60:42 Jemal Yimer, Ethiopia2. 60:43 Wesley Kiptoo, Kenya3. 60:45 Milkesa Mengesha, Ethiopia4. 60:45 Biya Simbassa, USA5. 60:49 Diego Estrada, USA14. 62:37 Galen Rupp, USA

2024 Houston Half Marathon women’s top 51. 64:37 Sutume Kebede, Ethiopia2. 66:07 Hellen Obiri, Kenya3. 66:24 Buze Diriba, Ethiopia4. 66:25 AR Weini Kelati, USA5. 67:36 Mestawut Fikir, Ethiopia

Kenyan-born American marathoner Betsy Saina has revealed what is motivating her to represent USA at the Paris Olympics after ditching her motherland in 2021.

Kenyan-born American marathoner Betsy Saina believes she is representing her whole family by running for the United States.

Saina switched allegiance from Kenya to the US in 2021, having represented her country of birth in 10,000m at the 2016 Rio Olympics before later moving to the marathon.

The 35-year-old is gearing up for her first Olympics trials with Team USA set to be held in Orlando, Florida and she has explained what it would mean to don the American colours at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“I'm really excited. Like I said, things have changed a lot,” Saina told CITIUS Magazine.

“The U.S. has become my home because it's been over ten years since I moved there. That makes me feel really emotional. My heart is full.

“I'm so grateful to be able to represent the U.S., after all I've gained in living there: to my two sisters living there, my son being born in the U.S. – it's a family thing for me. So I'm running for the whole family now.”

Saina moved to the US when she joined Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, later earning an agriculture and life sciences degree with a focus on nursing.

She has continued to shuttle between the US and Kenya, mostly training back home, including now as she prepares for the 2024 Olympics, alongside her long-time friend Joyciline Jepkosgei.

Saina admits it is much easier to train with Kenyan runners now knowing that she will not be competing with them for a ticket.

“I went to high school at the same time as her (Jepkosgei), so I knew her from back in 2005,” she added of her friend and training partner.

“When I made the decision [to switch allegiance] I really wanted to train with her because we have had a long-time friendship. But I was a little bit like, ‘oh my gosh, she's run 64!’

“But I looked at myself and I was like, ‘I need to challenge myself every day.’ When you're running with someone who is better than you, it's a privilege.

“I remember when I was training for Sydney and we were doing the same workouts, and my coach could use the time [difference between us] like, ‘hey, for this long run you still have like one or two minutes, you know, that you need to improve on.’ And I remember when I started maybe it was like four minutes and then by the time I was going for the race, I was closing down to like a minute."

Saina says unlike other runners, she enjoys training with Jepkosgei as she does not see her as a rival which makes things easier.

“It's been a big challenge, in a good way,” said Saina. “She's been helping me so much for the last month. She's not super competitive in training. Like, I know some people, when you're training with them, they can start saying, no, I don't want her to be close to me.”

“But for Joyciline, she really wants me, you know, to be on the same caliber with her, especially knowing that she's not in the same team with me. I love training with her. And when I come back from the Trials, I'll be able to keep training with her, whatever happens,” added the Sydney Marathon champion.

Defending champion Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba will be out to defend his Xiamen Marathon title as he is up against a strong field.

Defending champion Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba will be hoping to defend his title as he gears up to face tough opponents at the Xiamen Marathon on Sunday, January 7.

Kipchumba will face a stern test since 12 men, including the Kenyan, have personal best times faster than the course record of 2:06:19 set by Moses Mosop in 2015.

The 25-year-old Kenyan will arrive in Xiamen with high spirits since he remained unbeaten last year, winning all three of his marathon races and he will keenly be hoping to maintain the same momentum this season.

After a 2:10:47 victory in Hong Kong last February, he clocked 2:08:04 to win in Xiamen and continued his winning streak in Shanghai in November with a winning mark of 2:05:35, beating Mosop’s course record in Xiamen to become the Chinese all-comers’ record-holder.

Former world half marathon record-holder Kibiwott Kandie will also be pursuing his first-ever marathon title in Xiamen.

Chalu Deso of Ethiopia is also a formidable competitor after finishing seventh behind Kandie in Valencia last month in 2:05:14 and his career best of 2:04:53 was also achieved in the Spanish city in 2020.

Last year, Deso claimed the Tokyo Marathon title in 2:05:22 and he also owns marathon titles in Paris and Porto to his name. After outings in Nanjing and Dalian in 2018, the Xiamen Marathon will be Deso’s third race in China.

Philemon Kiplimo of Kenya is another sub-2:05 runner in the field and unlike Kandie and Deso, Kiplimo will arrive in the Chinese coastal city on fresh legs. His last marathon race was contested more than three months ago when he clocked a PB of 2:04:56 to finish eighth in Berlin.

Also toeing the line are several sub-2:06 runners, including Moroccan record-holder Othmane El Goumri, who set a PB of 2:05:12 to finish second in Barcelona last March and went on to win the Sydney Marathon in 2:08:20 six months later.

Meanwhile, the women’s race will see Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase also take on a tough field. The Ethiopian clocked a Personal Best time of 2:18:11 when claiming the world title in Oregon in July 2022.

She also registered another sub-2:20 mark when finishing third at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon in 2:18:18 and took a 2:20:09 victory at the Berlin Marathon in 2021.

Fellow Ethiopian Megertu Alemu is the fastest woman on paper with a career-best of 2:17:09 and will be joined by Ruti Aga, also from Ethiopia.

Other women to watch in the field include Tanzanian marathon and half marathon record-holder Magdalena Shauri, whose PB of 2:18:41 was set last September when finishing third at the Berlin Marathon, as well as Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi of Morocco, a 2:25:03 performer who claimed the marathon bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.

The Xiamen Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on Sunday (7) will witness the fastest marathon pack ever assembled in China, with 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebreslase heading a stacked field in the women’s race.

The 28-year-old Gebreslase of Ethiopia clocked her personal best of 2:18:11 when claiming the world title in Oregon in July 2022. She also registered another sub-2:20 mark when finishing third at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon in 2:18:18 and took a 2:20:09 victory at the Berlin Marathon in 2021.

Last year, Gebreslase clocked 2:24:34 to grab a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, which remains her last outing over the classic distance.

It will be the first time for Gebreslase to compete in Xiamen, a southeastern Chinese city, and she will be targeting not only the title, but also the course record of 2:19:52 set by her compatriot Mare Dibaba back in 2015.

Fellow Ethiopian Megertu Alemu is the fastest woman on paper with a career best of 2:17:09 achieved last October when finishing third at the Chicago Marathon.

Aside from having the fastest PB of the field, the 26-year-old has shown great consistency in the past two years, registering sub-2:19 marks in all her four races including notching a 2:18:51 victory at the 2022 Seville Marathon and finishing second and third respectively in the 2022 and 2023 London Marathon races.

Ruti Aga, also from Ethiopia, is another serious title contender. The 29-year-old clocked a PB of 2:18:09 to win the Yellow River Estuary Marathon in Dongying, China, last October, improving the Chinese all-comers’ record.

Aga also won the Tokyo Marathon in 2:20:40 in 2019 and has earned three runner-up finishes in major marathon races, including a 2:18:34 second place in the 2018 Berlin Marathon.

Other women to watch in the field include Tanzanian marathon and half marathon record-holder Magdalena Shauri, whose PB of 2:18:41 was set last September when finishing third at the Berlin Marathon, as well as Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi of Morocco, a 2:25:03 performer who claimed the marathon bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.

Kipchumba defends title

Defending champion Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba will face a tough contest in the men’s race, as a total of 12 runners in the field own a career best time faster than the course record of 2:06:19 set by Moses Mosop of Kenya in 2015.

The 25-year-old Kipchumba will arrive in Xiamen with high spirits. He remained unbeaten last year, winning all three of his marathon races. After a 2:10:47 victory in Hong Kong last February, he clocked 2:08:04 to win in Xiamen and continued his winning streak in Shanghai in November with a winning mark of 2:05:35, beating Mosop’s course record in Xiamen to become the Chinese all-comers’ record-holder.

Kenyan half marathon record-holder Kibiwott Kandie is also on the rise. The 27-year-old registered a PB of 2:04:48 to finish sixth in Valencia one month ago and will be pursuing his first ever marathon title in Xiamen.

Ethiopia’s Chalu Deso, 26, is also a formidable competitor. He finished seventh behind Kandie in Valencia last month in 2:05:14 and his career best of 2:04:53 was also achieved in the Spanish city in 2020.

Last year, Deso claimed the Tokyo Marathon title in 2:05:22. He also has marathon titles in Paris and Porto to his name. After outings in Nanjing and Dalian in 2018, the Xiamen Marathon will be Deso’s third race in China.

Philemon Kiplimo of Kenya is another sub-2:05 runner in the field and unlike Kandie and Deso, Kiplimo will arrive in the Chinese coastal city on fresh legs. His last marathon race was contested more than three months ago when he clocked a PB of 2:04:56 to finish eighth in Berlin.

Also toeing the line are several sub-2:06 runners, including Moroccan record-holder Othmane El Goumri, who set a PB of 2:05:12 to finish second in Barcelona last March and went on to win the Sydney Marathon in 2:08:20 six months later.

The Tanzanian ace failed to finish the race at the Sydney Marathon and he will be searching for redemption in the streets of Valencia.

Tanzania’s marathon ace Gabriel Geay will be lining up for his third marathon this year at the Valencia Marathon scheduled for Sunday, December 3.

The Tanzanian, who started off his season with a second-place finish at the Boston Marathon made the announcement on his Instagram page.

He said: “I’m excited to announce that I will be back to Valencia.”

His announcement comes after he encountered a hitch at the Sydney Marathon, lining up as one of the pre-race favourites, but he failed to finish the race. He did not explain what went wrong but noted that he encountered some challenges.

“Marathon is life and life is full of challenges. Today was a tough day for me but sometimes we must accept the defeat and focus for the next time. Thank you, Sydney Marathon, for the amazing event,” he said.

In Valencia, he will be lining up with the hope of redemption and also looking forward to ending his season on a high.

However, he will not have an easy time since the field has attracted some of the strongest marathoners ever. It will be at the Valencia Marathon where Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei will be debuting.

The Kenyan charge will be led by the duo of Alexander Mutiso and Kibiwott Kandie. Kandie is in the form of his life since he is just fresh from defending his Valencia Half Marathon title and he will be keen to build on that ahead of the marathon.

Mutiso, also an able athlete, will be competing in his second marathon this season after his triumph at the Prague Marathon.

American runners are about to begin training for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon

It’s early October, which means it’s the peak marathon season for many runners. But with an Olympic year on the horizon, it also means America’s top marathoners are about to hit the road to Paris.

More specifically, the men’s and women’s 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon races—scheduled for February 3 in Orlando, Florida—are just four months away. And that means the top U.S. runners hoping to represent their country at  next summer’s Olympics are about to begin preparing for the all-or-nothing qualifying race that decides which six runners will represent Team USA next summer on the streets of Paris.

Although several top American runners are racing the Chicago Marathon on October 8, even they have their eyes on a much bigger prize next February.

“There’s nothing in my mind that compares with being an Olympian and being in the Olympic Games,” says 26-year-old Utah-based Nike pro Conner Mantz, who returns to Chicago after finishing seventh last year in 2:08:16 in his debut at the distance. “So putting that first has been the plan for a long time. We’re just putting that first and we’re working backwards through the season with other races.” 

Registration will open for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in early November for runners who have surpassed the qualifying times in the marathon (2:18:00 for men, 2:37:00 for women) or half marathon (1:03:00 for men, 1:12:00 for women). The qualifying window extends through December 3—the race date of the last-chance California International Marathon, which for decades has been one of the most popular Olympic Trials qualifying races.

In 2020, a record 708 runners—465 women and 243 men—qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. But USA Track & Field lowered the women’s qualifying standard by eight minutes from the more attainable 2:45:00 plateau, which means there will most likely be a much smaller women’s field this year.

But even so, amid the handful of runners who have a legitimate shot at making the Olympic team, there will also be dozens of dreamers, wannabes, and just-happy-to-be-there elite amateurs who have worked hard, put in the miles, and earned the chance to be on the start line of the deepest and most competitive U.S. distance-running races that only happen once every four years.

The men’s and women’s races will run simultaneously with the men beginning at 12:10 P.M. EST. and the women starting 10 minutes later. Runners have complained that a high noon start means they will be forced to race in hot, humid conditions. Over the past decade, the average temperature on February 3 in Orlando has been 69.6 degrees Fahrenheit at noon, rising to 73.3 at 4 PM. But actual temperatures have varied drastically, from 81 degrees Fahrenheit at 2 P.M. last year to 56 at the same time the year before. USATF officials have responded by saying that the start times are to accommodate live coverage on NBC and to match the expected conditions in Paris.

Here’s an update and overview of what’s next, who the top contenders are, the course, and what to expect in the next four months.

The 26.2-mile U.S. Olympic Trials course runs through downtown Orlando and consists of one 2.2-mile loop and three eight-mile loops. The marathon course will run through several neighborhoods, main streets, and business districts in Orlando, including Central Business District, City District, South Eola, Lake Eola Heights Historic District, Lake Cherokee Historic District, Lake Davis Greenwood, Lake Como, North Quarter, Lawsona/Fern Creek, SoDo District, and the Thornton Park neighborhood. It will then head east to and around The Milk District neighborhood and Main Street. (Notably, the course will come close to Disney World, which is about 15 miles to the southwest.)

Unlike the Olympic Marathon course in Paris, which will challenge runners with significant hills in the middle, the Orlando course is mostly flat. Each loop has a few minor variations in pitch, but only 38 feet separate the high and low points on the course. Ultimately, though, it’s a spectator-friendly route with chances for family, friends, and fans of runners to see the action several times. 

The top women—based on personal best times and recent race results—are Emily Sisson, Emma Bates, Keira D’Amato, Betsy Saina, and Lindsay Flanagan. But the U.S. Olympic Trials races almost always produce surprises with a few great runners having off days and a few good runners having exceptional days, so there is reason to expect the unexpected.

Sisson lowered the American record to 2:18:29 last year when she finished second in the Chicago Marathon. She’s running Chicago again on October 8 along with Bates, who has said she’s hoping to break the American record. In January, Sisson, 31, chopped her own American record in the half marathon in Houston with a 1:06:52 effort, and most recently won the U.S. 20K Championships (1:06:09) on September 4 in New Haven, Connecticut. Bates, also 31, hasn’t raced at all since her sterling fifth-place effort at the Boston Marathon in April, when she slashed her personal best to 2:22:10. 

While Chicago will be another good place to test themselves, both have unfinished business after Bates was seventh at the 2020 Trials and Sisson dropped out near the 21-mile mark.

The same goes for Flanagan, 32, who has been one of America’s best and most consistent marathoners for the past five years. She placed 12th at the trials in 2020. She had a breakthrough win (2:24:43) at the Gold Coast Marathon in 2022 followed by a strong, eighth-place finish (2:26:08) at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year. In August, she ran perhaps the best race of her career, when she finished ninth (2:27:47) at the world championships in Budapest amid hot, humid conditions.

The 38-year-old D’Amato, meanwhile, just capped off another strong season with a 17th-place showing (2:31:35) at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, a year after finishing eighth in the world championships and setting an American record 2:19:12 at the 2022 Houston Marathon. She was 15th at the Trials in 2020 in 2:34:24, just two years into her competitive return to the sport after having two kids and starting a career in real estate in her early 20s.

“It’s such a huge goal of mine to become an Olympian,” says D’Amato, who lowered Sisson’s U.S. record in the half marathon with a 1:06:39 effort at the Gold Coast Half Marathon on July 1 in Australia. “It’s really hard for me to put words into this because my whole life, wearing a Team USA jersey has been like a huge dream. And when I left the sport (temporarily), I felt like I said goodbye to that dream and I kind of mourned the loss of being able to represent my country. I feel like it’s the greatest honor in our sport to be able to wear our flag and race as hard as possible.”

Saina, a 35-year-old Kenya-born runner who ran collegiately for Iowa State University, became a U.S. citizen in late 2021. She placed fifth in the 10,000-meters at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro while competing for Kenya. She’s spent the past several years splitting time between Kenya and Nashville, Tennessee, where she gave birth to a son, Kalya, in December 2021.

She’s returned with a strong fourth-place 1:11:40 result at the Tokyo Half Marathon last October and a fifth-place 2:21:40 showing at the Tokyo Marathon in February. In May, Saina won the U.S. 25K Championships in Michigan. Two weeks ago she broke the tape at the Blackmores Sydney Marathon in Australia in 2:26:47.

Other top contenders include but are not limited to Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Molly Seidel (who’s personal best is 2:24:42), 2022 U.S. Olympic Trials champion Aliphine Tuliamuk (2:24:37, 11th in Boston this year), Susanna Sullivan (2:24:27 personal best, 10th in London this year), two-time Olympian and 2018 Boston Marathon winner Des Linden (2:22:38), and Sara Hall (2:20:32, fifth at last year’s world championships), plus Kellyn Taylor (2:24:29), Nell Rojas (2:24:51), Sarah Sellers (2:25:43), Lauren Paquette (2:25:56), Dakotah Lindwurm (2:25:01), Annie Frisbie (2:26:18), Sara Vaughn (2:26:23), Tristin Van Ord (2:27:07), and Jacqueline Gaughan (2:27:08).

The list of potential men’s top contenders isn’t as clear-cut, partially because there are so many sub-2:11 runners and several fast runners who are relatively new to the marathon. But all that suggests a wide-open men’s race where more than a dozen runners are legitimately in the mix for the three Olympic team spots. That said, the top runners on paper, based on both time and consistent results over the past few years, are Scott Fauble, Jared Ward, Galen Rupp, Conner Mantz, Leonard Korir, Matt McDonald, and C.J. Albertson.

The 31-year-old Fauble, who was 12th in the Olympic Trials in 2020 and owns a 2:08:52 personal best, has finished seventh in the Boston Marathon three times since 2019 and also finished seventh in the New York City Marathon in 2018. Ward is a 2016 U.S. Olympian and has three top-10 finishes at the New York City Marathon and a 2:09:25 personal best from Boston in 2019. He’s 35, but he just ran a 2:11:44 (27th place) at the Berlin Marathon in late September.

Rupp, who won the past two U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons and earned the bronze medal in the marathon at the 2016 Olympics, is nearing the end of his competitive career. He boasts a 2:06:07 personal best and has run under 2:10 more than any American in history, including when he finished 19th at the world championships (2:09:36) last year. He’s a bit of a wild card because he’s 37 and hasn’t raced since his lackluster 17th-place showing at the NYC Half Marathon (1:04:57) in March, but the world will get a glimpse of his fitness in Chicago this weekend.

Mantz followed up his solid debut in Chicago last fall with a good Boston Marathon in April (11th, 2:10:25) and solid racing on the track and roads all year, including his recent runner-up showings at the Beach to Beacon 10K in August and the U.S. 20K Championships in September.

McDonald, 30, who was 10th in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials, has quietly become one of the best marathoners in the U.S. while serving as a postdoctoral associate in chemical engineering at M.I.T. His last three races have clocked in at 2:10:35 (Boston 2022), 2:09:49 (Chicago 2022), and 2:10:17 (Boston 2023). The only other runner who rivals that kind of consistency is Albertson, 29, who has run 2:10:23 (Boston 2022), 2:10:52 (Grandma’s Marathon 2022) and 2:10:33 (Boston 2022) in his past three marathons and was seventh in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2020 (2:11:49).

The men’s race will likely have a mix of veteran runners and newcomers who have run in the 2:09 to 2:10 range since 2022. Among those are 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials runner-up Jake Riley (2:10:02 personal best), who is returning from double Achilles surgery; 2016 U.S. 10,000-meter Olympian Leonard Korir (2:07:56), who ran a 2:09:31 in Paris in April; Zach Panning (2:09:28, plus 13th at the world championships in August); U.S. 25K record-holder Parker Stinson (2:10.53); Futsum Zienasellassie who won the California International Marathon last December in his debut (2:11:01) and then doubled-back with a new personal best (2:09:40) at the Rotterdam Marathon in the spring; Abbabiya Simbassa, who ran a solid debut marathon (2:10:34) in Prague this spring; and Eritrean-born Daniel Mesfun (2:10:06) and Ethiopian-born Teshome Mekonen (2:10:16), who both received U.S. citizenship within the past year; and solid veterans Nico Montanez (2:09:55), Elkanah Kibet (2:10:43) and Nathan Martin (2:10:45).

Additional sub-2:12 runners who will  be in the mix are Andrew Colley (2:11:26), Clayton Young (2:11:51), Brendan Gregg (2:11:21), Josh Izewski (2:11:26), Jacob Thompson (2:11:40), and Kevin Salvano (2:11:49).

As noted previously, some top contenders will season their marathon legs one final time at the flat and fast Chicago Marathon on October 8. An even more select few will opt for the New York City Marathon on November 5. After that, nearly every American with eyes set on an Olympic berth will double-down over the holiday season for that one final, critical marathon training cycle. Expect to see a wide range in heat training, from sauna protocols, to warm weather training trips, to simply an adjusted race day strategy.

Of course, with the Olympic Marathon falling under the purview of World Athletics, qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Marathon team is not quite as simple as finishing on the podium in Orlando. Any American looking to have a breakout performance and finish within the top three at the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon will need to have run under 2:11:30 for men and 2:29:30 for women within the qualification window, which spans from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2024. Given the possibility of oppressively hot and humid temps on February 3 in Orlando, they’re best bet is to secure that time now.

These qualification standards are in accordance with a new rule from World Athletics, which allows national Olympic committees to circumvent the typical Olympic qualification process of running under 2:08:10 for men and 2:26:50 for women, or being ranked among the top 65 in the world on a filtered list of the top three athletes from each country. The catch, though, is that three other runners from said country must have met one of these two standards. If this sounds complicated, that’s because it is.

For the hundreds of elite amateurs on the cusp of hitting that coveted U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying time, it’s do or die mode. While a few made the cut at the Berlin Marathon on September 24, one of those opportunities was lost when the Twin Cities Marathon was canceled on October 1 because of excessive heat. Temperatures are shaping up for an auspicious day in Chicago this weekend, and many more will give it a final shot at the Columbus Marathon on October 15; Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on October 28; the Philadelphia Marathon on November 18; and the last-call California International Marathon, a point-to-point race ending in Sacramento, California on December 3. 

Ultimately, only six American runners will likely continue on along the road to Paris and earn the chance to run in the men’s and women’s Olympic marathons next August 10-11. For a handful of younger runners, the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials will be a motivation to reinvigorate the Olympic dream or keep a faint hope alive, at least until the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials that will determine the team for the Los Angeles Olympics. But for many runners, the journey to the U.S. Olympic Trials in Orlando will lead to the end of their competitive road running careers as new jobs, young families, a switch to trail running, and other priorities will take hold. 

“I think the Olympic Trials is an important part of American distance running,” says Kurt Roeser, 36, a two-time U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier who works full-time as a physical therapist in Boulder, Colorado. “I’m glad that they kept it the same event for this cycle and hopefully for future cycles because it gives people like me a reason to keep training. I’m older now and I’m not going to actually have a chance to make an Olympic team, but for somebody that’s fresh out out of college and maybe they just barely squeak in under the qualifying time, maybe that’s the catalyst they need to start training more seriously through the next cycle. And maybe four years from now, they are a serious factor for making the team.” 

As the international outdoor track and field season draws to a close, we now look forward to the feast of top-class road racing that will be on offer throughout the final four months of the year.

In just 11 days’ time, the focus of the sport will be on the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23, where the best distance runners on the planet will compete for global honours in the mile, 5km and half marathon.

The likes of world champion Faith Kipyegon, world record-holder Berihu Aregawi and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir are among the stars set to compete in the Latvian capital. Recreational runners from around the world, meanwhile, will run on the same courses as the greats when they take to the streets of Riga for the associated mass races.

There are also eight Platinum Label road races between September and December, the first of which was held last weekend with Betsy Saina and Othmane El Goumri winning the Blackmores Sydney Marathon. Of the seven other upcoming Platinum events, three of them form part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) series: the BMW Berlin Marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the TCS New York Marathon.

Platinum Label road races, Sep-Dec 2023

8 Oct – Chicago Marathon (WMM)

15 Oct – Amsterdam Marathon

5 Nov – New York Marathon (WMM)

26 Nov – Shanghai Marathon

3 Dec – Valencia Marathon

17 Dec – Bang Saen Half Marathon

The Chicago Marathon two weeks later will be highlighted by a clash between defending champion Ruth Chepngetich and London Marathon winner Sifan Hassan.

Two-time Tokyo Marathon champion Birhanu Legese, the fourth-fastest marathon runner of all time, headlines the men’s field for the Amsterdam Marathon. Defending champion Evans Chebet will take on two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor at the New York City Marathon in November.

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Shanghai Marathon in late November will welcome an international elite field.

Just one week later, multiple global champion and world record-holder Joshua Cheptegei will make his long-awaited marathon debut in Valencia. In recent years the event has established itself as one of the highest-quality marathons in the world, and this year’s edition will surely be no exception.

Towards the end of the year, the Thai coastal area of Bang Saen will host one of the newest additions to the Platinum Label calendar, the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon. Since the pandemic, it has been largely a domestic affair, but it will be back with a bang this year with a high-quality elite line-up.

Hundreds of road races each year are granted a World Athletics Label, ranging from ‘Platinum’, for the top tier of road events, to Gold, Elite and Label. There are still more than 100 World Athletics Label road races due to take place between now and the end of 2023.

USA’s Betsy Saina held off a late challenge from Ethiopia’s Rahma Tusa to take the women’s title, while Othmane El Goumri claimed the men’s race win at the Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on Sunday (17).

Saina, who finished fifth at the Tokyo Marathon in March, clocked 2:26:47 to win by six seconds ahead of Tusa, while Gladys Chesir claimed third place in 2:28:41.

El Goumri’s winning time was 2:08:20 as he triumphed by 23 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Laban Kipngetich, with Ethiopia’s Getaneh Molla placing third in 2:11:22.

Racing on a hot morning, Saina formed part of a pack that passed 10km in 34:57 and the half way mark in 1:14:23 – with Kenya’s Angela Tanui to the fore at that point.

They reached 30km in 1:46:22, with a number of athletes still in contention.

Then Saina and Tusa started to make a move. As they left their rivals behind, they were together through 35km in 2:02:49, with Tanui back in third in 2:03:35.

Saina was still clearly feeling good and she pushed again to create a gap on Tusa, passing the 40km point in 2:19:30, 16 seconds ahead of the Ethiopian. But Tusa wasn’t content to sit back and watch the title run away, so she made a late charge. While she was able to close the gap to six seconds by the finish, it wasn’t quite enough, and Saina secured the crown, with Tusa taking second place and Chesir coming through for third.

Tanui finished fourth in 2:28:52, while Ethiopia’s Bekelech Borecha was fifth in 2:29:13. Australian record-holder Sinead Diver won the national marathon title in 2:31:27, finishing eighth overall.

In the men’s race, El Goumri made a move ahead of the 30km mark, but he had formidable company in the form of Tanzanian record-holder Gabriel Geay, who set his PB of 2:03:00 in Valencia last year.

After a half way split of 1:03:56, they passed 30km together in 1:30:58 but Geay could not maintain the pace and he dropped to third by 35km – with El Goumri ahead in 1:46:11 and Kipngetich overtaking Geay to pass that point in 1:46:28 to Geay’s 1:46:58.

Geay dropped out from the race after that point, with El Goumri forging ahead to win in 2:08:20 and Kipngetich claiming second place in 2:08:43. Molla, who had reached 35km in 1:47:31, claimed third place in 2:11:22.

He was followed over the finish line by his Ethiopian compatriot Limenih Getachew, who finished fourth in 2:12:34. Kenya’s Moses Kibet, who was defending his title after winning last year in an Australian all-comers' record of 2:07:03, was fifth in 2:13:28, while Oceanian record-holder Brett Robinson won the Australian title in 2:23:05, and like Diver he finished eighth overall.

With more than 17,000 entrants, the event was the largest marathon to ever take place in Australia.

Gabriel Geay, Moses Kibet, Angela Tanui and Judith Korir will be among the athletes in action when the Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, a World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race, takes place on Sunday (17).

The field’s experience in global and major marathon racing will make it the fastest marathon pack ever assembled in Australia, with homegrown and international talent battling it out on the event’s new course.

In the women’s field, Kenya’s 2022 World Championships silver medalist and Paris Marathon champion Korir makes her Australian debut. The 27-year-old, who finished sixth in the London Marathon in April, ran her PB of 2:18:20 when finishing runner-up to GotytomGebreslase on the global stage in Oregon last year.

She faces six other sub-2:22 women, including her compatriot Tanui, who ran 2:17:57 to win the Amsterdam Marathon in 2021. She went on to place fourth in the Tokyo Marathon the following year and then secured sixth place in Oregon.

Haven HailuDesse is among the seven Ethiopian athletes in the field and she will look to complete her first marathon since winning in Osaka in 2:21:13 in January. Her PB of 2:20:19 was also set in Amsterdam in 2021.

Eritrea’s NazretWeldu finished fourth and then eighth in the past two World Championships marathons, while SiraneshYirgaDagne has a best of 2:21:08.

Australian marathon record-holder Sinead Diver, who broke the national marathon record last year in Valencia with a time of 2:21:34, will lead the local elite field, making her Sydney Marathon debut.

The field also features USA’s Betsy Saina, a 2:21:40 marathon runner at her best.

Tanzanian record-holder Geay leads the men’s field with his PB of 2:03:00 set in Valencia last year. The 27-year-old went on to finish second in the Boston Marathon in April, clocking 2:06:04 behind winner Evans Chebet (2:05:54), and he placed seventh in the World Championships marathon in Oregon in 2022.

But Kibet has more experience when it comes to racing in Australia as he won last year’s Sydney Marathon, setting an Australian all-comers' record of 2:07:03 to beat his Kenyan compatriot Cosmas Matolo Muteti by just two seconds.

Oceanian record-holder Brett Robinson, who broke his Australian compatriot Rob de Castella’s long-standing area record in Fukuoka last year by running 2:07:31, will lead the domestic contenders.

The field features a total of nine sub-2:06 men, with Geay and Kibet joined by Ethiopia’s Getaneh Molla (2:03:34), Kenya’s Jonathan Korir (2:04:32), Ethiopia’s Abayneh Degu (2:04:53), Kenya’s Abraham Kipkemboi Kiptoo (2:05:04), Morocco’s Othmane El Goumri (2:05:12), Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn (2:05:27) and Kenya’s Laban Korir (2:05:41).

The Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS has today announced the fastest and most decorated elite field for the 2023 Sydney Marathon, to be run on Sunday, September 17. The field’s experience in World Championship and World Marathon Majors racing will make it the fastest marathon pack assembled in Australian history, with homegrown and international talent battling it out on the event’s new marathon course. 

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said the Sydney Marathon was a world-class event with one of the most spectacular marathon courses anywhere in the world. 

“Sydney leads the pack when it comes to venues to host a marathon. No city on earth has a better combination of natural beauty, a famous love of sport and iconic landmarks and it is an honour to host this elite field of international runners who will test themselves here in Sydney. 

“The NSW Government is proud to support the push for Sydney Marathon to become a World Marathon Major. It is a great example of a high-participation community event that brings global attention and tourism benefits for the city and NSW.” 

The 2022 Men’s World Marathon Champion Tamirat Tola (ETH), will headline the men’s field; competing in Australia for the first time with a personal best of 2:03:39. Formidable contender Gabriel Geay (TAN), who placed 2nd at the 2023 Boston Marathon has the fastest personal best of the field at 2:03:00. They will line up alongside Moses Kibet (KEN), Sydney Marathon’s defending champion and the current record holder for the fastest marathon time ever run in Australia. 

Australia’s fastest ever marathoner, Brett Robinson (VIC), who broke Rob de Castella’s long-standing Australian Record in Fukuoka last year with a time of 2:07:31 will lead the homegrown elite field. 

The 2022 World Marathon Championship runner-up and 2022 Paris Marathon Champion, Judith Jeptum Korir (KEN) will make her Australian debut at the Sydney Marathon, with a personal best of 2:18:20. She will be chased by an impressive line-up of competitors who have recorded times under 2:23:00 including Nazret Weldu (ERI), Haven Hailu (ETH) and Angela Tanui (KEN) who has a blistering personal best time of 2:17:57. 

Australian Marathon record holder, Sinead Diver (VIC), who broke the Australian marathon record last year in Valencia with a time of 2:21:34 will lead the local elite field, making her Sydney Marathon debut for the first time in 2023.

“We are thrilled to have assembled such a high calibre field for this year’s Sydney Marathon, as we head into our second year as a Candidate Race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors,” said Wayne Larden, Race Director, Sydney Marathon. “The presence of these exceptional runners is a testament to the event’s status as a world-class marathon for elite athletes, running enthusiasts and recreational runners alike, and we are confident that this year’s event will be nothing short of extraordinary.” 

The Sydney Marathon and its candidacy for the Abbott World Marathon Majors series is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. 

Kenyan trio of Judith Korir, Angela Tanui and Moses Kibet will be among the elite athletes set to feature in the 2023 Sydney Marathon set for September 17.

Defending champion Kibet, the fastest marathoner on the streets of Sydney, will face competition from Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola and Tanzania's Gabriel Geay who both have personal bests of 2:03.

Eritrea's Nazret Weldu and Haven Hailu of Ethiopia will pose a big threat to Tanui, the 2021 Amsterdam marathon champion as Korir makes her debut in the Australian streets.

A new route will be used in this year's event with the race starting at Bradfield Park in Milsons Point and finish at the Opera House forecourt.

Athletes will pass by some of the most historic landmarks in Australia including the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

This is the second year the marathon will be vying for the Abbott World Marathon Majors (Abbott WMM).

Over the next 3 years, the Sydney Marathon will be required to meet strict criteria to achieve ‘Majors’ status by 2025.

“We are thrilled to have assembled such a high caliber field for this year’s Marathon, as we head into our second year as a candidate race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors,” race director Wayne Larden said.

“The presence of these exceptional runners is a testament to the event’s status as a world-class marathon for elite athletes, running enthusiasts and recreational runners alike," he added.

Men’s world champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia and 2022 Paris Marathon women’s champion Judith Jeptum Korir of Kenya will headline the fields for the Sydney Marathon in September.

Organizers on Tuesday said it will be the fastest and most decorated elite field in the Sydney Marathon’s history.

Tola will compete in Australia for the first time and will be up against defending champion Moses Kibet, who holds the record for the fastest marathon time ever run in Australia.

Sydney is a candidate for the World Marathon Majors, a series of elite events that includes New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and Chicago.

The new route for the Sept. 17 Sydney marathon will take in some of the city’s most historic landmarks, including the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

Tola has a personal best of 2 hours, 3 minutes, 39 seconds. Gabriel Geay of Tanzania, who placed second at the 2023 Boston Marathon, has the fastest personal best of the field at 2:03:00.

Jeptum Korir will also make her Australian debut and has a personal best of 2:18:20. She will be competing against a number of runners who have recorded times under 2:23:00 including Nazret Weldu of Eritrea, Haven Hailu of Ethiopia and Angela Tanui of Kenya.

“We are thrilled to have assembled such a high calibre field for this year’s Sydney Marathon, as we head into our second year as a candidate race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors,” race director Wayne Larden said in a statement. “The presence of these exceptional runners is a testament to the event’s status as a world-class marathon for elite athletes, running enthusiasts and recreational runners alike.”

The marathon route takes in some of the most historic landmarks in Australia’s biggest city, including the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. The race starts at Bradfield Park in Milsons Point and finishes at the Opera House forecourt.

The Sydney Marathon is a participation legacy project from the Sydney 2000 Olympics, when the marathon course started in North Sydney and passed some of the city’s landmarks before finishing at the Olympic Park. The Opera House was also the backdrop for the Olympic triathlon events in 2000.

While Jeannie Rice and Jenny Hitchings are busy setting masters world records, their differences in training are even more instructive than their similarities

The spring marathon season has come and gone, and it didn’t disappoint, producing sensational races and world headlines. This was particularly true in Boston and London. However, you might have heard little or nothing about two of the best marathon performances in those events.

The big media coverage went to seemingly-unbeatable Eliud Kipchoge, who finished sixth at Boston, where Evans Chebet gained his third straight World Marathon Major victory in 12 months. At the London Marathon, Kelvin Kiptum ran 59:45 for the second half, en route to a course record 2:01:27, and Sifan Hassan demonstrated that she can win in the marathon as she has at multiple shorter distances.

But 75-year-old Jeannie Rice and 59-year-old Jenny Hitchings outran them all, on an Age-Gender performance basis, both setting new world records for their age groups. Rice’s 3:33:15 in Boston won’t count, since the Boston course is considered ineligible due to its significant downhill slope and point to point layout, which allows for a tailwind boost. Still, she beat the fastest 75-79 age-group male runner by more than 20 minutes, which has likely never happened before in a global marathon. And five weeks before Boston, at age 74, she ran 3:31:22 in the Tokyo Marathon.

A week after Boston, Hitchings ran 2:45:27 in London—a marathon world record for women in the 55-59 age division. Remarkably, she’s at the high end of that age range, as she’ll turn 60 in early July. Not only that, but it was her personal best marathon in 40 years of running.

Rice was born in South Korea and immigrated to the U.S. in her mid-30s. A retired real estate agent, she now divides her time between south Florida and Cleveland. Hitchings is a longtime resident of Sacramento, California, where she works as a middle-school cross-country coach and a private running coach.

Rice and Hitchings live on opposite coasts, but they have much in common. They’ve both been running for decades, both are extremely consistent in their training, and both log multiple 20-milers in their marathon buildups. Surprisingly, neither makes a particular effort to include hill training, a staple among other top marathon runners. Both are small and lean. Rice stands 5-foot-2 and weighs 96 pounds; Hitchings is 5-foot-4 and 100 pounds.

But Rice and Hitchings also present some stark contrasts. These differences carry an important message: There are many paths to marathon success, and the best senior runners understand this. Through their experience and wisdom, they’ve learned to focus on the positives and jettison the junk.

Here’s a look at some of the major contrasts between master marathon greats Jeannie Rice and Jenny Hitchings.

Both Rice and Hitchings had previously won age-group titles at Boston. Rice chose to return there in April for emotional reasons, as Boston marked her 40th anniversary of marathon running and her 130th marathon. Hitchings selected London for technical reasons. In 2021, she ran 2:45:32 at Boston. It would have been a record except for the point-to-point course prohibition. So this spring she opted for London’s record-eligible course.

Rice: “Boston has always been a special marathon for me,” said Rice. “My preparation wasn’t the best, as I ran the Tokyo Marathon in early March, and then did some traveling. But I wanted to have my Boston celebration, and I had quite a few running friends there with me.”

Hitchings: “London was on my marathon ‘bucket list’ anyway, and it gave me a great opportunity to set an age-group world record,” said Hitchings. “Since my 2:45 at Boston didn’t count, I figured I should take a crack at London while I was still in the age group.” [She will turn 60 in early July.]

Rice has always been self-coached. Hitchings, a running coach herself, has had a longterm coach-athlete relationship with Chicago-based Jenny Spangler. Spangler won the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in 1996 and ran a 2:32:39 marathon in 2003, after turning 40.

Rice: “I’ve been approached by people who wanted to coach me, but they seemed expensive and had other demands I didn’t like. I listen to what my friends do and what others are doing in training. I try to run 50 miles most weeks, and a bit more before my marathons. But I don’t actually follow a schedule. Mostly I just train the way I feel. I’m still running strong and beating records, so I must be doing something right.

“I know it’s possible that a coach could help me the way Gene Dykes’s coach helped him, but it’s also possible that things could go wrong. I like to decide my training according to how I feel each day.”

Hitchings: “I coach other runners, and I could certainly coach myself, but you know what they say about doctors who treat themselves: They have a fool for a patient. I think that can also apply to athletes who coach themselves. It’s just smarter to have someone looking over your shoulder, and adding some perspective.

“I’m one of those who’s often guilty of running too fast on my easy days, or getting excited and going too hard when I’m training with friends. Jenny [her coach] holds me accountable for those kinds of things. She has a great personal performance record that I respect a lot, and has been coaching for many years.

“It’s also important to me that she’s a female coach of my own age. She understands what I’m going through and dealing with in terms of female physiology.”

Both runners say they enjoy a relaxed morning cup of coffee before launching into their days. But Rice is up earlier, and often out the door quicker. Hitchings needs more time to be ready for a solid run.

Rice: “I like to get my run done early, so I have the whole day in front of me when I get back home at 7:30 A.M. or so. I’m usually running by 6 A.M. In Florida, where I spend my winters, that can be important for the cooler weather.

“But on days when I’m going 20 to 23 miles, I’ll get up at 3:30 A.M.  and begin running at 4:30 A.M.  I’ll go two hours on my own, and then join a local training group for their morning loop, which gives me another hour or so.”

Hitchings: “I coach a number of people who can roll right out of bed and start running. I’m not one of those. My favorite time to run is about 8 A.M. or 8:30 A.M. in the morning. I like my coffee first, and the morning newspaper, and I always make sure to get a light breakfast in my stomach. Since my favorite place to run is the American River Parkway, that gives me another 15 minutes of drive time before I get going.

“There have been times when I had to be a noontime runner, and that was OK, too. But 4 P.M. or 5 P.M.? That’s not going to happen. By that time of day, I’m too tired or depleted.”

This one is easy for Rice, who has never been injured except for a fall (and banged-up knee) in 2021 that cost her several weeks of running. Hitchings also considers herself relatively injury-free, but she has encountered an assortment of typical runner injuries through the years: Achilles tendinitis, piriformis pain, and surgery for Haglund’s deformity (a bony growth at the back of the heel resulting from mostly genetic causes).

Rice: “I go to the gym three times a week for a light strength workout, some pushups, and some stretching. But it’s not a serious session at all. I also golf for fun; I really enjoy golfing.”

Hitchings: “I try to do light weight work as much as I can, and I ride my bike 20-30 miles a week outdoors, and do Peloton indoors. Recently, I added Pilates once a week to improve my strength and mobility.

“Also, Jenny and I have agreed to take one hard running day out of my weekly schedule. I used to do speed work of some kind on Tuesday and Thursday, and a long weekend run. Now I’m down to speed on Wednesday, and a weekend long run that often has some tempo-pace segments.”

While both are clearly fit, Rice and Hitchings say they enjoy a wide variety of foods, and have no particular restrictions in their diets. Both enjoy wine drinking. Hitchings admits to a sweet tooth, too, but desserts are not a problem for Rice.

Rice: “Breakfast is usually oatmeal with fruit and nuts. At lunch and dinner, I enjoy a green salad with some sort of seafood or fish on top. I’ve never liked sweets and don’t crave them, but I love cheese and nuts. That’s my big downfall—cheese and nuts. The only supplements I take are calcium with vitamin D, B-12, and magnesium.”

Hitchings: “I eat  ‘clean,’ a well-balanced diet with an emphasis on carbs. I simply don’t feel good if I eat heavy, creamy, or fried foods. I get most of my vitamins and minerals from real foods, though recently I’ve added Athletic Greens to my routine.

“When I’m in heavy marathon training, I find it hard to maintain my weight, so I’ll have some protein shakes and maybe one chocolate bar, muffin, or pastry per day. I’ve got a drawer full of vitamins, calcium, collagen, and iron supplements, but I never seem to stick with any for long. It’s just too much.”

While realistic about their futures, neither Rice nor Hitchings sound the least bit intimidated by the unwritten future. Despite aging, both are driven to perform. They hope to keep running hard and fast, and chasing age-group records. Both plan to run the Chicago Marathon on October 8, as it will be the site of this year’s Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group Championships.

Rice: “Getting faster at 75 is almost impossible, but this year I’m going to run a few road miles to work on my speed. I’ve won my age group in every World Marathon Major but London, so I want to get back to London in the next several years. I want to run the Sydney Marathon, the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon, and, of course, I must run the Seoul Marathon in the country where I was born.”

Hitchings: “I’m running faster at 60 than I’ve ever run in my life. My time in London was literally my lifetime best, and I’ve been running a long time. Sometimes I get asked, ‘When are you going to stop running?’ My answer is always: ‘Why would I stop?’ I’m still getting faster, and I’m still enjoying it.”

Rice, though 15 years older, feels the same. It’s fun winning major marathons, of course, especially when she beats most men her age. In local and regional races, she challenges herself to finish as high as possible in the masters division against females three decades younger (and sometimes wins outright).

“I love competition,” she says. “I’m motivated to train hard, and I’m excited about setting more records as long as I can. Maybe into my 80s.”

Running is about finish times, sure, but it’s even more about attitude. Find the goal that’s right for you, and go after it. This is the approach both Rice and Hitchings have followed successfully, and neither plans to change course now, no matter how many candles adorn their next birthday cake.

Both are on a shared mission, and they’d like others to join them. As Hitchings says: “I think if we keep a positive attitude and motivation, we can go out there and do much more than people think. It’s important to show others that we can defy the way aging has been defined for us for so long.”

Mumbai sprung to life early on a nippy Sunday morning as over 55,000 people took part in the 18th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon.

 Records tumbled in Asia’s most prestigious race as the Ethiopian duo of Hayle Lemi and Anchalem Haymanot won with new course records to take home USD 45,000 winners prize and a course record bonus of USD 15,000 each.

Lemi took advantage of the slow pace in the first half of the men's race.  The 2016 Boson Marathon winner ran alongside the defending champion and countryman Derara Hurisa, Kenyan Philemon Rono and half a dozen other runners as they passed through the iconic Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link towards the halfway mark.

Lemi, Rono and another Ethiopian Hailu Zewdu broke away from the rest of the group at the 26th kilometre.  The three athletes climbed the Peddar Road together on their return journey.  Lemi increased his pace while coming down to enter Chowpatty beach corner and started running on the Marine Drive well ahead of the other two.  His 2:07:32 is an early season lead in the world this year.  Rono clocked 2:08:44 and Zewdu 2:10:23 for the other two places on the podium.

The women started their race at a fast pace and there was a keen tussle between five Ethiopian runners at the midway stage.  Worknesh Alemu, the 2019 champion here, drew from her past experience on the course to take the lead at that point. However, Haymanot, a marathon debutant, broke away from Alemu.  Rahma Tusa, two times Rome Marathon winner, and 2022 Sydney marathon runner-up Letebrhan Haylay ran shoulder-to-shoulder with her.   "Running along with these two experienced runners with fast timings to their credit was really a challenge, but I gained much experience from them,” Haymanot revealed during a post-race press conference.

For the first time, the podium finishers in the women’s section finished under 2:25, as Tusa (2:24:22) also finished under the previous course record of 2:24:33 held by Valentine Kipketer (Kenya) since 2013.

Gopi T made a winning return to competitive action while Chavi Yadav pulled off a spectacular victory on her marathon debut in the Indian race.

Olympian Gopi, the first Indian male to win the Asian Marathon Championship in 2017, clocked 2:16:41 to finish on top of the domestic Elites and 10th overall in the 18th edition of the USD 405,000 prize fund World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.

All eyes were on Gopi who was returning to competition after three years following knee surgery and the Army runner didn’t disappoint as he clocked 2:16:41, and was followed by Man Singh, who was 17 seconds behind, and Kalidas Hirave.

Gopi fell short of the upcoming Asian Games cut-off of 2:15 but said the win in India’s largest marathon gave him a tremendous boost.

“It felt good to be back after three years. I maintained a good pace for the first 30-odd kilometres but slowed down towards the end,” the Army runner told a news conference. “I never give up,” added Gopi, who previously won in 2018.

The 2020 winner Srinu Bugatha finished fifth in 2:23:05.

Bhopal’s Chavi said she was running the classic distance for the first time. “I didn’t run more than 25 km even in training,” she told a news conference. Arati Patil finished second, over 10 minutes behind, and Renu Singh was third.

The Elite Indian podium finishers were richer by INR 500,000, 400,000 & 300,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, Parul Chaudhary bettered her course mark in the women’s half marathon and Murli Gavit won the men’s crown. The podium finishers took home INR 100,000, 75,000 & 60,000 respectively.

Sydney Marathon officials are in talks to bring the greatest marathon runner in history, Eliud Kipchoge, to the 2024 race and help Sydney secure a prestigious new status as a world “major” marathon.

The Sydney Marathon, which began in 1999, is bidding to formally become one of the world’s leading 42.195km races, alongside legendary events such as the London Marathon and the New York Marathon.

Similar to tennis and golf, the top six marathons in the world – Boston, Berlin, Tokyo, Chicago, London and New York – are known as the “World Marathon Majors”. Each event attracts elite fields, and huge amounts of amateur applicants, every year.

Many marathon enthusiasts set out to collect a six-star medal, earned by running in each of the majors.

In coming years, however, the medal is likely to be upgraded with the organisation taking on three candidates for potential entry into the elite club: Sydney, Cape Town and Chengdu in China.

The Sydney Marathon announced its candidacy in July and the evaluation process runs for three years. It is already regarded as the strongest candidate.

“It’s a big deal for a number of reasons,” Sydney Marathon race director Wayne Larden said. “The main one is just the sheer volume of runners that take part in these events. Every single one of the Abbotts World Marathon Major events is oversubscribed by between 250,000 and 400,000 runners.

“Which means when we become a major, our numbers are going to leap, with people wanting to get that seventh star. We are expecting a huge boost in numbers, a massive increase in economic impact.”

Though recently upgraded on World Athletics’ ranking system to a “platinum” marathon – making it the eighth best in the world – the Sydney event is relatively modest compared to the majors, which have about 50,000 finishers. Sydney usually has about 5000 finishers, although many thousands more compete in the half-marathon and 10km events run simultaneously.

Destination NSW is backing Sydney’s candidacy for major status and the reasons are straightforward, says Larden. With tens of thousands of tourists coming to race each year, studies show cities gets a massive financial boost. The Chicago Marathon generated almost $600 million for the city’s economy this year.

Sydney must meet certain criteria for two years in a row over the next three years before a vote of other race directors can upgrade it to a major. The tourism and grandeur components are well-covered, with the race route including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House as a finish line.

But Sydney will also have to increase its finishers to 15,000 and support the race in bigger numbers like the other major marathons, where there is a culture of people lining the course to cheer on runners, entertainment and a festival atmosphere.

“There are benchmark things, you either have it or you don’t. Is the air clean? Is it a marketable city? Do people want to visit? These are things we have; Sydney is a beautiful place and a global destination,” Larden said.

“More specific things, there are a few key things. We have to triple our number of finishers in the marathon, we have to engage the Sydney community and get them out on the course, like what runners experience in Boston or New York or London. We have to get people out and cheering people on their journey.”

The Sydney Marathon course – which this year saw the fastest time ever run in Australia by Kenya’s Moses Kibet (two hours, seven minutes, two seconds) – will also be altered slightly, replacing the narrow sections of course winding along the edge of wharves at Pyrmont, with more roadway. And it will become a standalone race, with a half-marathon and shorter runs done a day before.

Australian marathon legend Steve Moneghetti, who won the Berlin Marathon in 1990 and is an adviser to the Sydney Marathon, believes the event can be the equal of any in the world.

“I can tell you that in all the world’s top marathons, and I ran a fair few of them, that no one has anything close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House on the course. They are iconic,” he said.

“You name me any city in the world and if you can name a better start/finish than that, then you’ve got me. That’s the selling point.

“It is really exciting. And I was a bit surprised, I thought, ‘The world marathon majors? Hey the six is the six and that’s that’. When I sort of considered it, I thought, ‘Yeah, why should it be just those six?’ Marathon running is booming around the world and it’s nice to think they are open to adding to it and Sydney is in the running for it.”

Kipchoge is undisputedly the greatest marathon runner ever, and proved as much by breaking the world record in Berlin in September, running 2:01.09.

The 2016 and 2020 Olympic gold medallist became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in 2019, in an event that didn’t qualify for a record.

Kipchoge, 38, has vowed to collect a six-star medal before he retires, but Sydney hopes to lure the Kenyan to Australia even before it becomes an extra point on the medal, with an appearance in 2024. Kipchoge running in Sydney would give the race a major boost of global credibility, and be a big help in meeting the targets for finisher and crowd numbers, too.

“He would definitely bring Sydneysiders out. He is like Usain Bolt on a track - when Bolt ran, the stands were full,” Larden said.

“We are talking to Kipchoge’s management and have been since we got nominated. He wants to finish the six next year, so our goal is to try and get him to Sydney in 2024, as that big drawcard.”

Moneghetti said having Kipchoge run across the Harbour Bridge in 2024 would be a massive coup: “To say you ran in a race when Kipchoge ran, that’s a selling point. That’d be huge.”

Ethiopia’s Derara Hurisa returns to defend his crown at Asia’s most prestigious Tata Mumbai Marathon on January 15, 2023, in a competitive Elite men’s field, with a dozen runners holding personal bests under the 2:08:09 course record he set in 2020.

The 18th edition of the USD 405,000 prize fund World Athletics Gold Label Road Race takes place after a two-year pandemic-forced break and will also witness over 55,000 amateurs across six categories on its much-awaited return.

The elite men’s and women’s winners will take home USD 45,000 each. The runners will be

further incentivized by a Course Record Bonus of USD 15,000.

“I’m up for the challenge and have set my sights on the title,” said Hurisa, who clinched the 2021 Guadalajara Marathon in Mexico in a time of 2:12:28.

Toeing the start line in the men’s section are also Hurisa’s compatriots Ayele Abshero and

Hayle Lemi and Kenya’s Philemon Rono, a training partner of the legendary Eliud Kipchoge.

Abshero was runner-up here in 2020, 11 seconds adrift of Hurisa, on an AIMS-certified course that is widely regarded as challenging. Abshero, who finished 10th at the 2022 Linz Marathon in Austria in 2:09:37, has a personal best of 2:04:23, which makes him the fastest in the field.

With a personal best of 2:04:33, Lemi is the second fastest in the group.

“I’m excited about my first Tata Mumbai Marathon. I’ve heard it’s a tough course,” said Lemi, winner of seven marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2016 and Dubai in 2015. “It’s a tremendous field and is going to be close,” added the Ethiopian, a.k.a. Lemi Berhanu, who was runner-up in the 2021 Boston Marathon.

Rono finished an impressive sixth at the 2019 Boston Marathon and won the Toronto Marathon the same year in 2:05:00. He recorded sixth-place finishes at the 2021 Abu Dubai Marathon and the 2022 Seoul Marathon.

Chepkech, the dark horse

In the women’s field, seven runners hold personal bests under the course record of 2:24:33 set by Valentine Kipketer in 2013, with Dera Dida (Ethiopia), Sharon Cherop (Kenya) and Rahma Tusa (Ethiopia) leading the charge on their debut here.

Silver medalist at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships, Dida won bronze in 10,000m at the 2019 African Games. In 2022, she won the Bejaia Half Marathon in 71:17 and finished eighth at the Great Ethiopian Run 10K.

“The Tata Mumbai Marathon has been on my running bucket list for some time. I’ve heard the people of Mumbai and India are very passionate about the running festival, and I look forward to this experience,” Dida said.

Cherop won marathon bronze at the 2011 World Championships and emerged victorious at the 2012 Boston Marathon. In 2022, she finished third at the Nairobi Marathon and the Buenos Aires Marathon.

Tusa took fourth place at the 2022 Sydney Marathon in 2:26:30 and the 2021 Valencia Marathon (in 2:23:20). She was fifth at the 2018 New York Marathon and won in Rome the same year.

Kenya’s Sheila Chepkech, also a first-timer in Mumbai, is the dark horse here. She won the 2022 Nairobi Marathon in 02:27:04. Previously, she finished second at the 2018 Milan Marathon and the 2017 Kosice Marathon. Also in the fray is the 2019 winner Worknesh Alemu of Ethiopia.

Vivek Singh, Jt MD, race promoter Procam International, said: “A truly world-class field will descend in Mumbai for the Tata Mumbai Marathon, a reflection of the event’s stature as one of the top 10 marathons in the world. The TMM returns bigger and better, and the spirit of #HarDilMumbai will burst to life come race day, with runners taking part across six categories.”

International Elite field:

Men:

Derara Hurisa (ETH) 2.08.09 (Course Record holder)

Ayele Abshero (ETH) 2.04.23

Hayle Lemi (ETH) 2.04.33

Philemon Rono (KEN) 2.05.00

Kebede Wami (ETH) 2.06.03

Aychew Bantie (ETH) 2.06.23

Hailu Zewdu (ETH) 2.06.31

Merhawi Kesete (ERI) 2:06:36

Masresha Bere (ETH) 2.06.44

Okubay Tsegay (ERI) 2.06.46

Reuben Kerio (KEN) 2.07.00

Hosea Kiplimo (KEN) 2.07.39

Abdela Godana (ETH) 2.08.06

John Langat (KEN) 2.09.46

Abida Ezamzamil (MOR) 2.09.52

Mesfin Nigusu (ETH) 2.09.53

Augustine Choge (KEN) 2.20.53

Women:

Dera Dida (ETH) 2.21.45

Sharon Cherop (KEN) 2.22.28

Rahma Tusa (ETH) 2.23.20

Sifan Melaku (ETH) 2.23.49

Adanech Anbesa (ETH) 2:24:07

Zinah Senbeta (ETH) 2.24.21

Ayantu Kumela (ETH) 2.24.29

Worknesh Alemu (ETH) 2.24.42

Letebrhan Haylay (ETH) 2.24.47

Zenebu Fikadu (ETH) 2.25.11

Rodah Tanui (KEN) 2.25.46

Kumeshi Sichala (ETH) 2.26.01

Lemeneh Kasu Bitew (ETH) 2.26.18

Sheila Chepkech (KEN) 2.27.04

Beshadu Birbirsa (ETH) 2.30.03

Gode Chala (ETH) 2.33.22

Anchalem Haymanot (ETH) Debut.

The 2016 and 2019 Rotterdam Marathon champion, Marius Kipserem, was given a three-year doping ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit on Thursday for the use of erythropoietin (EPO), which is a breach of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.

The 34-year-old becomes the 15th Kenyan athlete to receive a doping-related sanction since July. Kipserem was also one of Eliud Kipchoge’s 41 pacers at the INEOS-1:59 Challenge in 2019. He has a personal best of 2:04:04 from the 2021 Rotterdam Marathon, where he was the runner-up. 

According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Kipserem’s urine sample collected in an out-of-competition test conducted on Aug. 17 in Kapsabet, Kenya tested positive for EPO, a hormone that promotes red blood cell production, which improves endurance.

All of Kipserem’s results have been disqualified dating to Aug. 17. He last ran at the 2022 Blackmores Sydney Marathon in Australia on Sept. 18, where he placed sixth in 2:13:40. Kipserem trains with Rosa e Associati, Nike-sponsored training group in Kenya, alongside half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo and 2021 Chicago champion Seifu Tura. Lawrence Chrono and Emmanuel Saina, who both received doping bans this year, were also part of the group. 

Kipserem is the third INEOS-1:59 pacer to recieve a doping ban. Philemon Kacheran and Alex Korio were the first two athletes from the challenge to be handed bans from the AIU. 

Kipserem’s ban comes just days after two other Kenyan athletes were suspended by the AIU for doping-related charges. He is the fifth Kenyan athlete to receive sanctions in the last 30 days and the 52nd Kenyan who is currently serving a suspension. 

According to Kenyan newspaper The Standard, Athletics Kenya held an anti-doping educational forum alongside the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) on Tuesday in Eldoret. The ADAK called upon Athletics Kenya and government agencies to partner with them and educate athletes on the dangers and prevention of doping. 

Kenyan Moses Kibet has claimed a historic victory in the Sydney marathon as the top three finishers all bettered the previous fastest time on Australian soil.

Kibet clocked a winning time of two hours, seven minutes and three seconds on Sunday, crossing the line just two seconds ahead of countryman Cosmas Matolo.

Ethiopian Chalu Deso Gelmisa – the victor in the Paris marathon earlier this year – was third in 2:07:08.

The three Africans smashed the Australian all-comers record of 2:07:50 set by Japan’s Yuta Shitara on the Gold Coast in 2019.

Ethiopia’s Tigist Girma Getachew won the women’s marathon in 2:25:10 ahead of compatriot Letebrhan Haylay Gebreslasea and Eritrea’s Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet.

Jun Hiromichi won the men’s wheelchair marathon in 1:52.47, with Australian Richard Colman second in 1:53:28.

Australian Sinead Diver – who was a creditable 10th in the marathon at last year’s Tokyo Olympics – claimed victory in the women’s half-marathon at the Sydney Running Festival in a course record of 1:13:07.

Diver was also fifth in last month’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games marathon which was won by countrywoman Jess Stenson.

The Sydney marathon is in the first year of a three-year candidacy to join the prestigious World Marathon Majors.

The Blackmores Sydney Marathon has officially been announced as a candidate race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) – the first marathon in Oceania to be nominated.

The announcement marks the commencement of a multi-year evaluation process by AbbottWMM.

To become a Major, the Sydney Marathon will be required to meet strict criteria over a three-year period and if successful, will join an esteemed group of races – Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW-BERLIN Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon – as a new member of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025.

“We have always believed that the Blackmores Sydney Marathon has what it takes to be an Abbott World Marathon Major, so becoming one of only three candidate races is a tremendous honor”, said Wayne Larden, Race Director, Sydney Marathon.

“The Sydney Marathon is part of Australia’s largest running festival, the Sydney Running Festival, attracting thousands of participants to run across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and finish under the sails of the Sydney Opera House each year.

“We can now take a huge leap forward and become one of the most iconic running events in the World and achieving this status would be a tremendous boost for Sydney and Australia.  Australia is a proud sporting nation, and we want to call on all of Australia’s runners from all over the country and runners from overseas to support the Sydney Marathon achieve the criteria to become an Abbott World Marathon Major in Sydney.”

Whilst the Sydney Marathon already meets many of the requirements set by the Abbott World Marathon Majors and continual enhancements will be made to the race over the next three years including significant growth of our marathon finishers.

“We are pulling out all the stops to achieve these goals and greatly appreciate the support of the running community across Australia and Overseas, as well as the support from our partners, sponsors, staff and volunteers who are helping to make this dream a reality.” Larden said.

The Sydney Marathon and its candidacy for the Abbott World Marathon Majors series is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Sport Stuart Ayres said the candidacy acknowledges the Sydney Marathon as a world-class event with one of the most spectacular marathon courses on the planet.

“No city in the world has a better combination of natural beauty, love of sport and iconic infrastructure for hosting a marathon than Sydney. The Sydney Marathon is recognized as one of the world’s best marathon events, uniting people of all backgrounds to enjoy an unforgettable running experience. The World Marathon Majors candidacy recognizes Sydney as a premier destination to join the great marathon cities of the world, while showcasing Sydney’s natural beauty and desirable lifestyle to a global audience.

“Achieving the status of an Abbott World Marathon Major would cement Sydney’s position as one of the world’s great sporting event cities. It would attract thousands of visitors to the Harbour City and play a key role in the NSW Government’s ambition to make Sydney and NSW the major events capital and premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific,” Mr Ayres said.

A legacy event of the Sydney Olympics, the Sydney Marathon will attract some of the world’s greatest long-distance runners and wheelchair athletes to Sydney throughout the candidacy period. The presence of these elite athletes is expected to draw significant interest in the event, lower current finish times and act as a drawcard for age group runners.

The candidacy also sees Infront, a Wanda Sports Group company, become a stakeholder in the Sydney Marathon. The organization will provide strategic input on both media rights and sponsorship strategy whilst also supporting the event throughout the evaluation phase.

Hans-Peter Zurbruegg, Senior Vice President Personal & Corporate Fitness at Infront, said: “Sydney is an amazing destination and has an iconic marathon with a strong legacy.  Infront is delighted to form part of the efforts to make it an AbbottWMM event in the coming years. The event is already recognized as a success, and we will leverage our expertise, networks, and insights to elevate the event to the next level. We are proud to work in close partnership with the Abbott WMM team, as well as the Sydney team including all stakeholders to make the dream of establishing a WMM event in Sydney, Australia come true.”

CEO Athletics Australia, Peter Bromley added: Athletics Australia is extremely proud to be the owners of Australia’s greatest running festival. A legacy event of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, it has a long and prestigious history. Building on that, this candidacy opportunity will deliver significant growth to the event and showcase the sport of Athletics far more broadly. We look forward to assisting the event achieve the criteria and become an Abbott World Marathon Major.

Dawna Stone, recently appointed Abbott World Marathon Majors CEO said, “The Abbott World Marathon Majors are delighted to welcome the Sydney Marathon into the candidate process from 2022. This presents an exciting opportunity to expand our impact into Oceania and further our mission to create, grow and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. We look forward to working closely with the team in Sydney as we start this journey together!”

The marathon is part of the Sydney Running Festival which boasts incredible courses that take in Sydney’s most scenic and iconic landmarks. The Sydney Marathon provides runners with the unique opportunity to run over the spectacular Sydney Harbour Bridge, traffic-free, before crossing the finish line surrounded by the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

In addition to the Sydney Marathon, Cape Town’s Sanlam Marathon and China’s Chengdu Marathon are currently part of the AbbottWMM candidate process. Only three candidate spots are available.

The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival including the Sydney Marathon will take place on Sunday September 18, 2022.  Entries are open at sydneyrunningfestival.com.au.

Felix Kiprotich and Stellah Barsosio have smashed the men's and women's marathon course records at the Sydney Running Festival.

Pre-race favorite Kiprotich took almost a minute and a half off the men's record, becoming the first person to break 2:10 for the Sydney Marathon with a winning time of 2:09:49 as he breasted the tape at the Sydney Opera House forecourt. 

In a quick race in perfect conditions, second placed Michael Kunyuga and Japan's third-place finisher Saturo Sasaki also ran under the previous course record of 2:11:18, set by Gebo Burka in 2014. 

Last year's winner Elijah Kemboi finished fourth in 2:13:55 - 42 seconds faster than his victorious time in 2018. 

The women's record fell by even more, with Barsosio finishing alone in 2:24:33, which was good enough for eighth place overall.

That's an incredible 3:33 faster than the previous record (2:28:06), set by Makda Harun in 2017.

Second placed woman Josephine Chepkoech also run under the previous record, finishing in 2:26:43, while the third placed woman - Tejitu Chalchissa - finished in 2:28:22.

In the half marathon, Ryota Komori won in 1:05:00, beating Thomas Do Canto by 32 seconds.

Belinda Martin won the women's half in 1:14:50, ahead of Rebecca Lowe in 1:17:04 and Karinna Fyfe in 1:18:09.

The IAAF Gold Label road race, centerpiece of the mass participation Sydney Running Festival that has attracted almost 40,000 entrants, is not as fast as some courses, but any road course in Australia’s biggest city boasting one of the world’s iconic harbors, must be a compromise between aesthetics and degree of difficulty.

Nonetheless, organizers are confident the course records – 2:11:18 by Ethiopia’s Gebo Gameda Burka in 2014 and 2:28:04 by Ethiopian-born Australian resident Makda Harun Haji in 2017 – can be substantially improved. They have assembled a field and will provide the pacing to make that happen in this year’s race.

Australian 10,000m record holder Ben St. Lawrence will spearhead the pacers endeavoring to pilot the leading male runners through the first 25km on pace to break the men’s record. Corresponding assistance should see the leading women – including Harun Haji – through half-way on the required pace.

“We want to see the records broken this year,” race director Wayne Larden said on Friday, “and we think we have the depth in both fields for that to happen.”

Felix Kiprotich looks the pick of the men’s field. The 30-year-old Kenyan runner comes with strong current form. He recorded his personal best – 2:05:33 – in winning Korea’s Daegu marathon this April, so he is fast and in a winning mood. He also brings consistency, having four sub-2:07 times on his c.v.

Kiprotich has bettered 2:07 in four of the past five years and ran sub-2:08 in the only year he did not. He is also familiar with the region, his best performances all coming in Asia.

Elijah Kemboi won last year’s Sydney race by over two minutes in 2:13:33. Before last year he had run sub-2:10 for the previous six years. Besides his win in Sydney, he was second in Linz and won in Macao, so his consistency remains at a high level. Another Kenyan, Kiprotich Kirui, has bettered 2:10 each of the past three years including a 2:09:05 for third place in Madrid earlier this year.

Japanese runners have a good recent record in Sydney, despite usually not arriving with the strongest credentials among the elite runners. Satoru Sasaki was third in the always-strong Fukuoka marathon in 2015 in his PB 2:08:56 and finished eighth there last year in 2:11:40. He and younger compatriot Ryo Kuchimachi – 2:13:30 in Tokyo this year – will bear watching.

Kenyan duo Stellah Barsosio and Josephine Chepkoech head the elite athletes in the women’s field.

Each comes with strong recent form. Barsosio was second in this year’s Rotterdam marathon in her fastest career performance of 2:23:36. The 26-year-old was fifth in Paris the previous year and also boasts a half-marathon best of 1:09:31.

Chepkoech, 30, is a little faster than her compatriot over the half distance, with a best of 1:08:53. That dates back to 2013, however, but her 2:25:20 performance in the Barcelona marathon earlier this year suggests she remains a strong contender.

Harun Haji holds the race record set in 2017, the second time in succession she triumped in Sydney. In both victories, she broke away in Centennial Park significantly before the half-way point where the tree cover and bends in the road make it relatively easy to “disappear” from the chasers. She does not have compelling domestic form coming into the race, but it will be interesting to see whether she, or any of her rivals, adopt similar tactics.

Ethiopian pair Hirut Alemayehu and Gebeyanesh Ayele will also be in the hunt. Ayele has a personal best of 2:26:54 from Hengshui just one year ago, while Alemayehu’s best is 2:30:09. Both have half-marathon bests of just over 70 minutes, so need to be respected.

Tejita Daba, Bahrain, and Bornes Kitur, third in Osaka this year and with a 2:24:19 PB from Prague last year, are also more than capable of winning in a very even women’s field.