Gobena claims first victory after ending second final yr, as Jepchirchir provides to Boston, New York and London wins.
Printed On 30 Aug 2026
Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena and Kenyan world champion Peres Jepchirchir surged to commanding Sydney Marathon wins in the men’s and women’s races.
It was the primary victory in a World Marathon Main for 21-year-old Gobena, who got here second final yr, whereas Jepchirchir, in Australia on Sunday, added to her earlier triumphs in Boston, New York and London.
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Gobena made his transfer within the final kilometre to energy residence 4 seconds away from compatriot Chimdessa Debele Gudeta in 2:04:42. Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana got here third.
The dominant run shattered the course document by nearly one and a half minutes, with final yr’s winner Hailemaryam Kiros dropping from the tempo within the dying levels.
“I’m very blissful,” stated Gobena, who was a javelin thrower earlier than transitioning to long-distance working, gaining worldwide consideration by successful the 2024 Dubai Marathon.
“Final yr I got here second, I learnt from my mistake and I went again residence and I labored on my mistake to carry out and break the document in the present day.”
The unstoppable Jepchirchir was in a league of her personal, crossing the end line in entrance of the Sydney Opera Home in 2:18:31, practically 4 minutes forward of fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai and Ethiopia’s Shure Demise Ware.
“I used to be ready, however I used to be undecided after I got here right here if I might win, so I’m so glad and I’m so blissful,” stated Jepchirchir.
“It was so hilly. First half [of the race] was so powerful, however the second was higher no less than. Nevertheless it was not simple.”
Within the males’s race, the main pack had thinned to fifteen by the midway mark, with Gobena, world champion Alphonce Simbu and Kiros amongst them.
Dawit Wolde, Vincent Ngetich and Gobena all tried breakaways, however they had been reeled in by a pack decreased to seven with six kilometres left.
It was nonetheless the identical group on the 40km mark earlier than Gobena and Gudeta made their transfer, pulling clear with Gobena outkicking his countryman within the last dash.
Kenya’s Priscah Cherono went out laborious among the many girls, opening a 20-second hole by 15km and 30 seconds by midway.
However the lead chasers, down to only Jepchirchir and Cheptai, caught the 46-year-old Kenyan simply earlier than 30km.
Jepchirchir and Cheptai eased clear and the relentless world champion then put her foot to the ground, ending 9 seconds off the course document set by Olympic champion Sifan Hassan in 2025.
American Daniel Romanchuk gained the lads’s wheelchair race, whereas Switzerland’s Manuela Schar, a three-time Paralympic gold medal winner, took the ladies’s.
Round 40,000 runners – a document – competed over the picturesque 42.19km course via the town from North Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge to the end line on the forecourt of the Opera Home.
The race was elevated final yr to the seventh World Marathon Main, placing it on a par with London, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York within the elite international collection.
