Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena and Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir won the 2026 Sydney Marathon on August 30, with Gobena setting a new men’s course record and Jepchirchir claiming her fourth World Marathon Major title.Gobena, 21, clocked 2:04:42 to beat compatriot Chimdessa Debele, who finished in 2:04:46.
Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana was third in 2:04:57.According to World Athletics, Gobena’s time was almost one and a half minutes faster than the previous course record of 2:06:06, set by Hailemaryam Kiros in 2025.
The victory also completed Gobena’s redemption after finishing second in Sydney last year.
Last year I came second, I learnt from my mistake and I went back home and I worked on my mistake to perform and break the record today,” Gobena said; according to an Al Jazeera report carried by AFP.
The men’s race remained closely contested into the final kilometres before Gobena and Debele broke away.
World Athletics reported that the first seven finishers all went under the previous course record.In the women’s race, Jepchirchir won in 2:18:31, finishing ahead of compatriot Irine Cheptai, who clocked 2:22:11.
Ethiopia’s Shure Demise was third in 2:22:33.Reuters reported that the victory gave Jepchirchir her fourth World Marathon Major title, adding Sydney to previous wins in Boston, New York and London.
Jepchirchir gradually took control after catching early leader Priscah Cherono, who had built a significant advantage during the opening stages.
I was prepared, but I was not sure when I came here if I would win, so I’m so glad and I’m so happy,” Jepchirchir said; according to Al Jazeera’s AFP report.
Her winning time was just nine seconds outside Sifan Hassan’s women’s course record of 2:18:22, set in 2025.
The results highlighted the strength of African distance running, with Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho and Tanzania all represented among the leading finishers.
The Sydney Marathon, now part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, attracted about 40,000 runners, according to Al Jazeera.
The race began in North Sydney, crossed the Harbour Bridge and finished near the Sydney Opera House.
Gobena’s course record and Jepchirchir’s commanding victory underlined Sydney’s growing importance as one of the world’s major marathon destinations.
