Addisu Gobena and Peres Jepchirchir Claim Sydney Marathon Titles

SYDNEY — Ethiopian runner Addisu Gobena and Kenyan athlete Peres Jepchirchir secured victories in the men’s and women’s divisions of the Sydney Marathon on Sunday.

In the men’s event, 21-year-old Gobena won his first World Marathon Major title, completing the 42.19-kilometer (26.2-mile) course in 2:04:42. Gobena, who finished second in Sydney the previous year, broke the previous course record by nearly a minute and a half. He maintained a position in the lead pack throughout the race, surviving multiple breakaway attempts before launching a final sprint in the closing kilometer to finish four seconds ahead of fellow Ethiopian Chimdessa Debele Gudeta. Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho finished third, while defending champion Hailemaryam Kiros dropped off the pace during the final stages.

Gobena, a former javelin thrower who switched to distance running and won the 2024 Dubai Marathon, reflected on his preparation. “I learnt from my mistake,” Gobena said, explaining that he returned home after last year’s second-place finish to focus on his training.

The men’s race featured a 15-runner lead group at the halfway mark that included Gobena, Kiros, and world champion Alphonce Simbu. Breakaway pushes by Dawit Wolde, Vincent Ngetich, and Gobena were covered by the field, reducing the lead pack to seven athletes with six kilometers remaining. Gobena and Gudeta broke away together after passing the 40-kilometer mark.

In the women’s division, Jepchirchir finished in 2:18:31, crossing the line nearly four minutes clear of runner-up Irine Cheptai of Kenya and third-place finisher Shure Demise Ware of Ethiopia. Jepchirchir’s time fell nine seconds short of the event record established in 2025 by Sifan Hassan. Early in the race, 46-year-old Kenyan Priscah Cherono built a 30-second lead by the halfway point before being overtaken just prior to the 30-kilometer mark by Jepchirchir and Cheptai. Jepchirchir then accelerated away from Cheptai to claim victory, adding to her career titles in London, Boston, and New York.

Commenting on the terrain, Jepchirchir noted the difficulty of the course. “First half was so tough, but the second was better at least,” she said.

In the wheelchair competitions, American Daniel Romanchuk won the men’s category, while three-time Paralympic gold medalist Manuela Schar of Switzerland claimed the women’s title.

The race drew a record entry of approximately 40,000 participants. The course led runners from North Sydney across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the finish line on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.

Background

The Sydney Marathon was recently added to the global World Marathon Majors series as its seventh official race, joining established events in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. The promotion has elevated the status of the Australian race, attracting prominent elite distance runners from around the world.