{"id":260245,"date":"2026-08-30T00:27:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T00:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/30\/addisu-gobena-smashes-sydney-marathon-record-as-jepchirchir-wins-fourth-womens-major\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T00:27:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T00:27:53","slug":"addisu-gobena-smashes-sydney-marathon-record-as-jepchirchir-wins-fourth-womens-major","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/30\/addisu-gobena-smashes-sydney-marathon-record-as-jepchirchir-wins-fourth-womens-major\/","title":{"rendered":"Addisu Gobena smashes Sydney Marathon record as Jepchirchir wins fourth women\u2019s major"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ethiopia\u2019s Addisu Gobena surged to a record-breaking victory in the men\u2019s race at the Sydney Marathon<\/a>, while Kenya\u2019s Peres Jepchirchir claimed the women\u2019s crown on Sunday.<\/p>\n

In perfect conditions, Gobena won the hotly contested men\u2019s race in two hours four minutes and 42 seconds \u2013 more than a minute and a half quicker than the previous record on the hilly harbourside course which attracted 40,000 competitors from around the world.<\/p>\n

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The 21-year-old Ethiopian, who was a javelin thrower until 2023, broke away with compatriot Chimdessa Debele Gudeta from the lead pack of six runners inside the final two kilometres and then surged ahead on the downhill finish to the Sydney<\/a> Opera House to win by four seconds.<\/p>\n

Gobena, who finished second behind Hailemaryam Kiros last year<\/a>, celebrated by punching the air after crossing the finish line. \u201cI am very happy. Last year I came second, I learned from my mistake, and I went back home and I worked on my mistake to perform and break the record today,\u201d said Gobena through an interpreter.<\/p>\n

Lesotho\u2019s Tebello Ramakongoana was third in 2:04:57. The top seven finishers, including Kiros, were all inside Kiros\u2019 record time of 2:06:06 set in last year\u2019s race.<\/p>\n

It was the Sydney Marathon\u2019s second year as a major, a list of elite events that includes New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and Chicago.<\/p>\n

Jepchirchir broke the women\u2019s field early and raced away to win by more than three minutes as she claimed her fourth marathon major.<\/p>\n

The Kenyan crossed the line in a time of 2:18:31, nine seconds behind Dutch multi-distance star Sifan Hassan\u2019s mark set in last year\u2019s event. The Kenyan has now added the Sydney title to her wins in Boston, New York and London.<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span>Kenya\u2019s Peres Jepchirchir celebrates as she wins the women\u2019s race at the 2026 Sydney Marathon.<\/span> Photograph: David Gray\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Compatriot Irene Chepet Cheptai was second in 2:22:11, with Shure Demise Ware of Ethiopia another 22 seconds behind in third.<\/p>\n

The event was hit by an embarrassing medal mix-up<\/a>, with a design error resulting in Munich\u2019s Allianz Arena being etched on to medals instead of Sydney\u2019s Allianz Stadium. Organisers acknowledged the mistake, which incorrectly depicted a landmark in Germany on medals intended to feature a Sydney landmark.<\/p>\n

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