A Historic Day in Sydney: Kiros and Hassan Shatter Records at the Sydney Marathon
Sunday 31 August ,2025
THIS REPORT AND SUMMARY GENERATED WIRTH THE ASSISTANCE OF GEMINI AND META AI
SYDNEY, Australia
In a monumental day for Australian distance running, the Sydney Marathon, making its debut as an Abbott World Marathon Major, saw new course records set by both the men’s and women’s champions.1 Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros and the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan dominated their respective elite fields, securing historic victories on a scenic course that concluded at the iconic Sydney Opera House
Men’s Race: Kiros Claims Fastest Marathon Ever on Australian Soil
The men’s race was a thrilling contest, with a lead pack of elite runners staying together for much of the course.3 Hailemaryam Kiros, the 28-year-old Ethiopian, emerged victorious in a stunning time of 2:06:06. This time not only set a new course record but also stands as the fastest marathon ever run in Australia.
Kiros’s victory was hard-fought. He and his compatriot Addisu Gobena broke away from the main pack after the 30km mark, turning the race into a two-man duel.4 In the final kilometers, Kiros used the hilly terrain to his advantage, pulling away from Gobena to win by a margin of 10 seconds.5 Gobena finished second in 2:06:16, with Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana securing a commendable third place with a time of 2:06:47.6
Athletes cross the Harbour Bridge during the 2025 Sydney Marathon on August 31, 2025. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP) / –IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE–
The race also featured one of the sport’s greatest names, two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge.7 The 40-year-old Kenyan, who was the headline attraction, fell off the lead pack around the 33km mark and finished ninth in 2:08:31.8 Despite not securing a podium finish, Kipchoge expressed his contentment with the run, stating, “I’m happy to go across the finish line.9 I have nothing to prove. My mission is to bring all the people togethe
Women’s Race: Hassan’s Dominant Performance
In the women’s elite race, Sifan Hassan, the reigning Olympic champion, delivered a performance for the ages.10 The Dutch multi-distance star, who opted for Sydney over the World Athletics Championships, demonstrated her incredible strength and tactical prowess.11 Hassan broke the previous course record, set just last year, by more than three minutes, crossing the finish line in a remarkable 2:18:22.12
Hassan led a formidable field that included former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei of Kenya and last year’s winner, Workenesh Edesa of Ethiopia.13 Hassan’s decisive move came after the 40km mark, where she pulled away from Kosgei to build a 34-second lead.14 Kosgei held on for second place with a time of 2:18:56, while Edesa rounded out the podium in third at 2:22:15.15
Reflecting on her win, Hassan said, “It’s amazing, I’m really grateful, I’m so happy to win a course record. It’s history, it’s the first major marathon [in Australia] and I’m the first winner.”
Wheelchair Races and Australian Standouts
The Sydney Marathon also featured exceptional performances in the wheelchair divisions.16 Swiss superstar Marcel Hug continued his dominant run, winning the men’s event in a record-smashing 1:27:15, an astonishing 11 minutes faster than the previous course record. In the women’s wheelchair race, American six-time Paralympic medalist Susannah Scaroni secured a decisive victory with a time of 1:44:52.17
On the Australian front, Canberra’s Leanne Pompeani led the local women with a seventh-place finish in 2:24:47, followed by Olympians Jessica Stenson and Lisa Weightman.18 For the Australian men, Melburnian Haftu Strintzos was the top finisher in 14th place with a time of 2:11:27.19
The 2025 Sydney Marathon’s elevation to a World Marathon Major brought a record 35,000 participants to the city, solidifying its place as a premier global running event and showcasing the best of Australia to the world.
