‘I have nothing to prove’, records broken in first Sydney major

Dutch multi-distance phenomenon Sifan Hassan believed that being part of the Sydney Marathon in its first year as a major, would make her a part of history. That was before she won the race, becoming the fastest woman to ever finish a marathon in Australia.

Hassan clocked a women’s winning time of two hours 18 minutes and 22 seconds as Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge fell short of the podium in the men’s category on Sunday.

Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros produced the fastest marathon ever run in Australia to win the men’s event in 2:06:06.

The 28-year-old prevailed by 10 seconds over young countryman Addisu Gobena, who had run shoulder-to-shoulder with Kiros for kilometres before giving way and finishing ahead of Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana in third.

Kiros shaved 12 seconds off last year’s record set by Kenya’s Brimin Kipkorir, who is provisionally suspended after recording a positive test for a prohibited substance two months after his win in Australia.

Hassan blitzed the previous record set in 2024 of 2:21:40. Brigid Kosgei came in second on Sunday, also beating the time from last year but missing another win by 34 seconds.

“The last five kilometres, I’m dead,” Hassan said.

“It’s the first major marathon in Australia, in Sydney, and I’m the first one to win, so it’s big history for me.

“I felt so good in the first 5Ks and I think I pushed too hard. I pushed really hard the last 10Ks.

“I was like, ‘That’s not really smart. I’m going to pay the price’, but I feel I got away with it. I’m so grateful.”

Kipchoge, 40, finished ninth in 2:08:31 after dropping out of the leading pack around the 31km mark.

“I’m happy to go across the finish line. I have nothing to prove,” Kipchoge said.

“My mission is to bring all the people together. Let us surpass 55,000 (from 35,000), actually, next year to run here.

“It’s a beautiful course. It’s a course whereby there is no other in this world.”

Canberra local Leanne Pompeani led the Australian’s charge in the women’s race, crossing the finish line in seventh with a time of 2:24:47.

Pompeani was followed by Olympians Jess Stenson and Lisa Weightman in eighth and ninth, respectively.

Melburnian Haftu Strintzos posted the best result for Australia’s men in 14th in 2:11:27, ahead of 16th-fastest Thomas Do Canto.

Former national record holder Brett Robinson was 17th in 2:15:00.

Swiss star Marcel Hug smashed the record of 1:36:38 set by Australian legend Kurt Fearnley in 2011 to win the men’s wheelchair marathon.

The seven-time Paralympic gold medallist and marathon world record holder outpaced the field as he clocked 1:27:15 and won by more than six minutes from last year’s Paralympic marathon bronze medallist Tomoki Suzuki.

America’s six-time Paralympic medallist Susannah Scaroni was just as dominant in the women’s category to win in 1:45:52.

Scaroni’s time easily bettered Australian star Madison De Rozario’s record time of 1:54:10, set last year. De Rozario, who claimed back-to-back Sydney Marathon wins from 2023, did not compete on Sunday.

With AAP

The last two Blue Line Legends have completed the Sydney Marathon, making them the fifth and sixth person to run every Sydney Marathon.

Eric Schmierer completed the course in 4:58:55 and the oldest legend, Ray James, finished it in 6:04:38.

On Thursday, James, who is 76, said his training this year had been complicated by his treatment for cancer.

“I can’t train as hard, as I have cancer and I have drug treatment, so that kind of interferes with it,” he said. “I’m not a fast runner, I will be five-and-a-half/six hours. But I’ll get across the line, and I’m a winner, really, once you do that.”

“One day I won’t be able to do it, and so I’m not going to close up shop earlier than they cart me off the course.”

Born out of the legacy of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the Sydney Marathon has paid homage to the original course in many ways. From moving the start line back to Miller St, to keeping the run over the Bridge, to tracing the original blue painted line in Moore Park, organisers have found a myriad of ways to do so.

Another nod to Sydney 2000 is in this year’s volunteer uniforms, inspired by those worn at the Games.

With 100 days out from the race, Race Director Wayne Larden said the uniforms honoured the original volunteers.

“Our volunteers embody the same passion and commitment that made the Games so special, and these tribute uniforms honour the legacy they uphold year after year,” he said.

At around 5.30am, Rogelio Canizales boarded the Sydney Metro destined for North Sydney with just the essentials ahead of the marathon. In his hand, a ziplock bag of plain penne pasta, with the hopes that it would fuel him on his marathon.

The Cherrybrook resident completed the course in just over five hours.

Fan favourite, Eliud Kipchoge kept up with the leading group of men for most of the race.

In the last 10km, he fell behind the core pack of runners and the two-time Olympic gold medallist, who has won 11 majors, finished in ninth place this morning.

“I’m happy to go across the finish line. I have nothing to prove,” Kipchoge said afterwards.

“My mission is to bring all the people together. Let us surpass 55,000 (from 35,000), actually, next year to run here. It’s a beautiful course. It’s a course whereby there is no other in this world.”

“It was not my day today...Above all, I have crossed the finish line to empower the people of Australia. To make Australia a running nation.”

Wondering how your mum is going, how your neighbour is faring, or whether your friend with the dodgy knees has made it past the half-way mark? Here’s how to find out.

The Sydney Marathon website tracks all the results for the marathon, including how runners fare at several intervals, including half-way, and when they finish. Just type their name into the search bar at this link.