30 Aug 2026
THREE RECORDS FALL AT TCS SYDNEY MARATHON WITH THE FASTEST MARATHON EVER RUN ON AUSTRALIAN SOIL
The TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS delivered the fastest race in Australian history today, with three of the four race records smashed and the men's field producing a podium faster than any seen on Australian soil.
Addisu Gobena (ETH) returned to Sydney a year after finishing second and left with the record, breaking the tape in 02:04:42 to take 1 minute 24 seconds off the race record of 02:06:06 set by Hailemaryam Kiros in 2025. It is the fastest marathon ever run by a male athlete in Australia.
Chimdessa Debele Gudeta (ETH) finished second in 02:04:46 and Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) third in 02:04:57, completing a third consecutive Sydney podium for the Lesotho record holder. All three men finished inside the previous race record, alongside four others. All three broke 02:05:00, a barrier no athlete had approached in this country before today. Reigning World Marathon Champion Alphonce Simbu finished 4th with 2:04:57.
"Fifteen seconds covered the podium in a race that reset every benchmark we had," said Wayne Larden, Race Director, TCS Sydney Marathon. "Five men under 2:05 on Australian soil would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Sydney's course, our crowds and the calibre of field we now attract as an Abbott World Marathon Major have made it real."
Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) came to Sydney as the reigning World Champion and raced like it, crossing the line in 02:18:31 to win by 3 minutes 40 seconds in the most commanding victory in the event's history. The Olympic champion finished just nine seconds outside Sifan Hassan's 2025 race record of 02:18:22, adding Sydney to a list of Abbott World Marathon Majors titles that already includes Boston, London and New York. Irine Cheptai (KEN) was second in 02:22:11 after a determined solo chase, with Shure Demise Ware (ETH) third in 02:22:33.
Daniel Romanchuk (USA) produced the standout performance of the day in the men's wheelchair race, winning in 01:26:50 and lowering the race and Australian all-comers record of 01:27:15 set by Marcel Hug in 2025. Six-time Paralympic champion David Weir (GBR) marked his TCS Sydney Marathon debut with second place in 01:31:33, holding off Luo Xingchuan (CHN) by two seconds in a sprint to the Opera House.
Manuela Schär (SUI) claimed the most historic victory of the day. Her winning time of 01:42:04 took 2 minutes 48 seconds off Susannah Scaroni's course record of 01:44:52, and the win made her the first athlete in history, across all classifications, to win on all eight Abbott World Marathon Majors courses.
Eden Rainbow-Cooper (GBR) was runner-up for the second year running in 01:47:17, more than six minutes faster than her 2025 performance, with Paralympic great Tatyana McFadden (USA) third in 01:51:08.
The Australian Marathon Championships returned to the TCS Sydney Marathon this year with the richest prize purse in Australian marathon running. Andy Buchanan (AUS) took the national title on debut in Sydney in 02:10:14, the first marathon he has run on home soil. It is the fastest time by an Australian at the TCS Sydney Marathon. World Championships representatives Tim Vincent (AUS) and Liam Boudin (AUS) followed in 02:13:54 and 02:14:58.
Tokyo Olympian Ellie Pashley (AUS) claimed the women's national title in 02:28:28, ahead of Amelia Clark (AUS) in 02:29:47 who was a late addition to the field after entering the event on Friday, and Caitlin Scott (AUS) too 3rd place in 02:31:11.