Gobena, Jepchirchir win 2026 Sydney Marathon with course record
Synopsis
Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir and Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena swept the 2026 Sydney Marathon titles as a record 40,000 runners took the start line. Gobena's course record — more than a minute faster than 2025 — signals that Sydney, in just its second year as an Abbott World Marathon Major, is already attracting world-class fields capable of elite times.
Key Takeaways
Addisu Gobena won the men's race in 2:04:42 , setting a new Sydney Marathon course record on 30 August 2026 .
Gobena's time bettered the previous record of 2:06:06 set by Hailemaryam Kiros in 2025 by over a minute.
Peres Jepchirchir , Olympic gold medallist, won the women's race in 2:18:31 , nearly four minutes ahead of runner-up Irene Cheptai .
A record 40,000 runners participated, the largest field in the event's history.
The Sydney Marathon became the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major in November 2024 and joined the series in 2025.
Addisu Gobena of Ethiopia and Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir claimed top honours at the 2026 Sydney Marathon on Sunday, 30 August, as a record 40,000 runners descended on the Australian city for one of the world's most prestigious road races. Gobena's winning run set a new course record, cementing Sydney's growing stature on the global marathon circuit.
Men's Race: Gobena Breaks Course Record
Addisu Gobena crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 42 seconds, slicing more than a minute off the previous course record of 2:06:06 set by 2025 winner Hailemaryam Kiros. The margin of improvement underscores how competitive the field had become in just the race's second year as an Abbott World Marathon Major.
Fellow Ethiopian Chimdessa Debele Gudeta finished a close second in 2:04:46, with Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho rounding out the podium in 2:04:57. Notably, all three men finished within 15 seconds of each other — a remarkably tight top-three in major marathon racing.
Women's Race: Olympic Champion Jepchirchir Dominates
Olympic gold medallist Peres Jepchirchir delivered a commanding performance in the women's race, finishing in 2:18:31 to take the title. Her compatriot Irene Cheptai claimed second place in 2:22:11, while Ethiopia's Shure Demise Ware completed the podium in 2:22:33. Jepchirchir's winning margin of nearly four minutes over second place reflected her class on the course.
Sydney Marathon's Rise as a Global Major
The Sydney Marathon was officially designated the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major in November 2024, joining an elite group that includes Boston, Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. It formally entered the series in 2025, making this its second edition as a Major. The record 40,000-strong field in 2026 signals rapidly growing global interest in the race.
This comes amid a broader boom in mass-participation marathon events across the Asia-Pacific region, with Sydney now firmly positioned as the premier long-distance running event in the Southern Hemisphere.
What's Next
With Gobena and Jepchirchir now on the Sydney Marathon's honour roll, attention will shift to whether either athlete targets the remaining Abbott World Marathon Majors in the autumn season. The 2026 Berlin and Chicago marathons are next on the global calendar, and Sunday's performances will raise expectations heading into those races.
Point of View
Not just its depth. The 40,000-runner field is also a commercial and logistical milestone that few Asia-Pacific events have reached. The question now is whether Sydney can sustain elite depth across both fields year on year, or whether, like some newer Majors, it risks becoming a marquee name without marquee competition in the years its headline draws don't show up.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 Sydney Marathon?
Ethiopian athlete Addisu Gobena won the men's race and Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir won the women's race at the 2026 Sydney Marathon on 30 August 2026. Gobena set a new course record in the process.
What was Addisu Gobena's winning time at the 2026 Sydney Marathon?
Addisu Gobena finished in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 42 seconds, setting a new Sydney Marathon course record. This was more than a minute faster than the previous record of 2:06:06 set by Hailemaryam Kiros in 2025.
What was Peres Jepchirchir's winning time in Sydney?
Peres Jepchirchir crossed the finish line in 2:18:31, winning the women's race by nearly four minutes. Compatriot Irene Cheptai finished second in 2:22:11 and Ethiopia's Shure Demise Ware was third in 2:22:33.
What is the Abbott World Marathon Majors series?
The Abbott World Marathon Majors is an elite series of the world's most prestigious marathon races, including Boston, Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. The Sydney Marathon was named the seventh Major in November 2024 and officially joined the series in 2025.
How many runners participated in the 2026 Sydney Marathon?
A record 40,000 runners took part in the 2026 Sydney Marathon, the largest field in the event's history and a sign of its growing global profile since joining the Abbott World Marathon Majors series.
