Records Tumble at Sydney Marathon

With over 40,000 people participating across four events – 25,000 in the 42.2km race – the Sydney Marathon exceeded all expectations yesterday. Records fell left and right as both course records were broken in the fastest men’s and women’s marathons ever run in Australia.

Australian favourite Madison De Rozario successfully defended her 2023 crown in the elite women's wheelchair race just days after returning from the Paris Paralympics, where the 2020 gold medallist won silver in the marathon and bronze in the 5000m.

Paris had been an emotional rollercoaster for the 30-year-old. Just hours after carrying the Australian flag in the opening ceremony, she learnt that her father Ray had died. After debating whether to fly home, she decided to stay and compete.

In Sydney, De Rozario raced home in 1:54:10, more than 15 minutes ahead of her compatriot Christie Dawes (2:09:18), who took silver.

“I am exhausted – it’s been a really big week,” de Rozario told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Kenyan runner Brimin Misoi won the men's marathon in 2:06:17, taking 45 seconds off the course record set two years ago by compatriot Moses Kibet. In doing so, he also lowered the record for the fastest ever 42.2km run in Australia.

Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa Gurmesa broke the women’s course record in 2:21:40, just 89 seconds ahead of Ruti Aga, with Gotytom Gebreslase completing an Ethiopian podium with 2:24:16. The first four women all came in under Stella Barsosio’s former record of 2:24:33, set five years ago.

Gurmesa also set a new record for the best marathon time run by a woman in Australia, overturning Japanese athlete Naoko Takahashi’s Sydney Olympic win in 2000 (2:23:14)

As you no doubt know, this was Sydney Marathon’s second and final year as a candidate to join the Abbott World Marathon Majors – if successful, it will take its place alongside New York, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, London and Chicago – and the series' organisers and race directors would have been paying close attention on Sunday.

With such a great turnout and results, the future looks bright for Australia’s major. An announcement may come within weeks.