Sifan Hassan and Eliud Kipchoge headline the Sydney Marathon

This is a historic first for Australia. The Sydney Marathon has officially joined the exclusive Abbott World Marathon Majors circuit, alongside legendary races in Berlin, Boston, New York, Chicago, Tokyo and London. Sydney is no longer merely keeping pace with the sport’s biggest events: it is now a pillar of the international marathon scene. And for its Major debut, the elite field is nothing short of spectacular.

Olympic champion Sifan Hassan set to race the Sydney Marathon

© Bob Martin / London Marathon Events

© Jed Leicester / London Marathon Events

© NN Running Team

© Bob Martin / London Marathon Events

© Bob Martin / London Marathon Events

No marathon ever held on Australian soil has assembled such a prestigious women’s field.

Dutch star Sifan Hassan, a three-time Olympic medalist at the Paris 2024 Games, with gold in the marathon and bronze in the 5,000m and 10,000m, will be on the start line. She will be chasing her third Major title after wins in London and Chicago in 2023. With a personal best of 2:13:44, she is currently the third-fastest woman in history over the marathon distance.

Alongside her will be another global marathon heavyweight: Kenyan Brigid Kosgei, the former world-record holder and a five-time Major winner. Kosgei has finished on the podium in nine of her ten career marathons. She also won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Her record is remarkable.

Hassan and Kosgei are the clear pre-race favorites. They will aim to break the course record set last year by Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa Gurmesa in 2:21:41. The Australian pavement is going to be hot.

And the list does not end there. Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa, who won last year in 2:21:41, will defend her title. She will face a strong Ethiopian contingent, including:
✔ Ashete Bekere – 2:17:58
✔ Meseret Belete – 2:18:21
✔ Tiruye Mesfin – 2:18:35

The Australian contingent is strong too, with Jessica Stenson (2:22:56), Lisa Weightman (2:23:15) and promising newcomer Leanne Pompeani (2:24:53 in her first marathon in early 2025), all set to draw plenty of home support from the roadside.

This is without question the strongest women’s marathon field Australia has ever seen. With some of the fastest and highest-ranked athletes in the world confirmed, Sydney is now establishing itself as a world-class marathon destination. That is exactly what the AbbottWMM race represents, and we are proud to bring it here to Sydney.

2025 Sydney Marathon women’s elite field:

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge headlines the field

© Bob Martin / London Marathon Events

On the men’s side, the depth of the field is unprecedented. Fifteen runners have already broken 2:07. But all eyes will be on Eliud Kipchoge. At 40, the two-time Olympic champion, victorious in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, will contest the 23rd marathon of his career in Sydney. His personal best? 2:01:09, run in Berlin in 2022. Since then, the marathon GOAT has endured a few setbacks, including sixth place in Boston in 2023 and a DNF at the Paris Olympics. But he got back on track this year with a solid 2:05:25 in London.

Can he still challenge for the win in Sydney? The Kapsisiywa native, from southwestern Kenya, has already won 12 races on the Majors circuit, an extraordinary level of longevity. Can he break the course record too? That will be a tall order. With 317m of elevation gain and 400m of descent, runners will need strong legs to improve on the time run last year by Kenyan Brimin Kipkorir: 2:06:18 (editor’s note: the athlete has since received a five-year doping ban following a test conducted in November 2024).

And behind him, the competition will be fierce:
✔ Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (Kenya), a marathon breakthrough star with a 2:03:13 in Berlin in 2023 and two consecutive third-place finishes in Tokyo. Currently ninth in the World Athletics marathon rankings, he is the man to watch in the lead pack.
✔ Birhanu Legese (Ethiopia), who owns a 2:02:48 personal best, is a two-time Tokyo winner and a member of the NN Running Team.
✔ Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia), winner of the 2025 Xiamen Marathon in 2:06:06.
✔ Edward Cheserek (Kenya), a former NCAA star who ran 2:05:24 in Valencia in 2024.

Australia will also line up its best options: Brett Robinson (2:07:31), Liam Adams (2:08:39), plus promising talents such as Haftu Strintzos (1:00:36 for the half marathon) and Samuel Clifford, fresh from a 27:34 over 10K.

Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi, the surprise 2018 Boston winner and record holder for the most sub-2:20 marathons, with more than 100, will also take his place on the start line.

This year’s men’s field is exceptional. It is not just a group of fast stars, but an incredibly deep field. We have several runners capable of breaking the course record, young talents ready to make their mark on the international stage and, of course, Eliud Kipchoge, the living legend of the marathon. We have also made a point of showcasing Australia’s best runners, and it is fantastic to see so many local champions on the start line alongside the biggest names in the world for our first edition as an Abbott World Marathon Major. For running fans and Australian athletes, this is a unique opportunity to experience an exceptional sporting moment here at home.

2025 Sydney Marathon men’s elite field:

The Sydney Marathon’s first edition as a Major is about far more than a single race. It is a show of strength, a message to the world: Australia wants to become an essential destination on the international marathon circuit. With names such as Kipchoge and Hassan on the start line, all eyes will be on Oceania, and the race promises to be as spectacular as it is fiercely contested.

✔ Save the date: August 31. This epic race will launch the marathon season. The stage is set, the stars are assembled… just a few more weeks of training before the show takes over the streets of Sydney.