Sydney Marathon 2025: Sifan Hassan and Hailemaryam Kiros Smash Course Records, Eliud Kipchoge Finishes Ninth

Sunday, August 31, 2025, will go down as a landmark date for Australian running and marathon history. In its first appearance as part of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors, the TCS Sydney Marathon delivered a world-class spectacle. Under cool morning conditions and clear skies, Dutch star Sifan Hassan dominated the women’s race, shattering the course record in 2:18:22. On the men’s side, Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros triumphed in 2:06:06, also rewriting the record books. Legendary Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, the two-time Olympic champion, crossed the line in ninth place with 2:08:31—an honorable result on a demanding course.

| Sifan Hassan Reigns in Sydney

The favorite heading into the race, Sifan Hassan did not disappoint. True to her style, the 32-year-old approached the contest with both seriousness and calm. Guided by male pacemakers, she hit halfway in 1:10:01 alongside Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei and defending champion Workenesh Edesa of Ethiopia. Then, at the 35K mark, she chose a downhill stretch to unleash a decisive surge, breaking away from her rivals.

From there, Hassan was untouchable. Even after a tricky section on the descent, she maintained a blistering pace to finish in 2:18:22—more than three minutes faster than last year’s record. Brigid Kosgei, the 2021 Olympic marathon champion, finished second in an excellent 2:18:56, while Workenesh Edesa secured third in 2:22:15.

La fondeuse de 32 ans a fait exploser le groupe et s’est envolée seule vers la victoire. Malgré un passage délicat dans une descente, elle a gardé une allure impressionnante pour franchir la ligne d’arrivée en 2h18’22, améliorant de plus de trois minutes le record établi l’an passé. Elle est sans conteste la reine de Sydney. La Kényane Brigid Kosgei, championne olympique en 2021 à Tokyo, prend la deuxième place avec un chrono canon de 2h18’56, tandis que l’Ethiopienne Workenesh Edesa complète le tiercé gagnant en 2h22’15.

With this victory, Hassan remains unbeaten over the marathon distance: four wins in four attempts (London and Chicago in 2023, the Paris 2024 Olympics, and now Sydney). At 32, she continues to write new chapters in marathon history.

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| Hailemaryam Kiros Takes Command, Kipchoge Shows His Class

The men’s race delivered suspense and drama. A strong lead pack, including Kiros, rising Ethiopian Addisu Gobena, and Kipchoge, passed halfway in 1:03:45. But the relentless pace and rolling hills began to thin the field. Pacemakers dropped out at 30K, and from there the leaders traded surges on each climb and descent.

At 36K, Gobena pushed hard and briefly took the lead alone. But Kiros reeled him in by 40K and then launched a decisive uphill attack. Stronger in the closing stages, the Ethiopian pulled clear and never looked back, winning in 2:06:06 to set a new course record.

For Kiros, this breakthrough builds on a successful 2024, when he ran 2:04:35 for fifth in Berlin. This Sydney victory now cements his place among the world’s top marathoners. Gobena held on for second in 2:06:16, while Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho completed the podium in 2:06:47.

Behind the younger generation, Kipchoge showed his experience and poise. At 30K, already feeling the strain, he let the leaders go and ran his own race, finishing in 2:08:31. At 40 years old, the Kenyan legend didn’t claim a 12th Major title (in what was his 21st career marathon), but he once again inspired fans with a resilient performance on one of the sport’s toughest courses.

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| Sydney: Perhaps the Toughest Major of Them All

The times were fast, but the course makes them even more impressive. With countless climbs and descents, Sydney is more rollercoaster than flat expressway. Maintaining a steady rhythm is nearly impossible. In total, the race features 313 meters of climbing and 396 meters of descent—a brutal recipe for tired quadriceps.

In that context, the records set by Hassan and Kiros are extraordinary. They highlight not only their world-class ability but also their capacity to excel on demanding courses—far from the flat, record-optimized routes of Berlin or Valencia.

Sydney’s debut as a World Marathon Major was a resounding success. Between Hassan’s dominance, Kiros’s breakthrough, and Kipchoge’s enduring resilience, the 2025 edition will be remembered as a milestone in marathon history.

✔ Find the full results of the 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon here.

Clément LABORIEUX
Journalist