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Sydney Marathon
Sydney Opera House near the finish line in 2005
DateSeptember
LocationSydney, Australia
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
(also half marathon, 10 km, 3.5 km)
Established2001 (23 years ago) (2001)
Course recordsMen's: 2:07:03 (2022)
Kenya Moses Kibet
Women's: 2:24:33 (2019)
Kenya Stella Barsosio
Official siteSydney Marathon
Participants13,297 finishers (2023)[1]

The Sydney Marathon is a marathon held annually in Sydney, Australia each September. The event was first held on the 30th of April 2000 and called The Host City Marathon as a test event for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and has continued every year since, as a legacy of the 2000 Summer Olympics.[2] The marathon is categorized as a Platinum Label Road Race by World Athletics.[3][4]

The Sydney Marathon is part of the Sydney Running Festival, which also includes a half marathon, a 10K run, and a 3.5 km (2.2 mi) race.[5]

History

The Sydney Marathon started in April 2000, following the same course as the marathon during the 2000 Summer Olympics.[3][6] The women's race in 2001 was won by Krishna Stanton, who had never run a marathon before, and was doing the event as a result of a challenge from a friend.[6]

In 2014 the marathon was awarded a Silver Label Road Race by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), then in December 2014 the race was awarded a Gold Label Road Race[7] in time for the 2015 race and it is now a Platinum Label Road Race.[3]

The 2020 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all entries automatically transferred to 2021, and all registrants given the option of also running the race virtually for free.[a][9][10] Moses Kibet won the 2022 race in 2:07:02, a new course record, and the fastest marathon time run on Australian soil.[3]

In July 2022, organisers of the race announced that they were applying to be added to the list of World Marathon Majors.[3]

Following the 2023 event, Sydney Marathon achieved a pass, and moved forward to the next assessment step in becoming a World Marathon Major.[11]

Course

The marathon course initially followed the same course that was used in the 2000 Summer Olympics.[6]

In 2010 the marathon course was changed to flatten it out which, according to the organisers, makes it "a faster, more scenic and spectator friendly course."[12]

The marathon runs on a point-to-point course that begins in Bradfield Park, Milsons Point, crosses over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and ends in front of the Sydney Opera House.[3][13]

Other awards

To date, eight runners have competed in every Sydney Marathon, and have been dubbed "Blue Line Legends".[14]

In addition, runners who have completed at least 10 marathons are eligible to be inducted into the Bridge Club.[15][b]

Other races

In addition to the marathon, a half marathon, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) "Bridge Run", and a 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) "Family Fun Run" are also held under the banner of the Sydney Running Festival.[16]

The Bridge Run was added in 2002, initially as a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) event, before being reduced to 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) in 2005. The Bridge Run has since returned to being an AIMS certified 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) distance.

All the races finish at the Sydney Opera House, except for the fun run, which ends at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music less than a kilometre from the Opera House.[5]

Winners

Key:    Course record

Year Athlete Nationality Time[c] Athlete Nationality Time[c]
Male Female
2023[17] Othmane El Goumri  Morocco 2:08:20 Betsy Saina  Kenya 2:26:46
2022 Moses Kibet  Kenya 2:07:03 Tigist Girma Getachew  Ethiopia 2:25:10
2021 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[9]
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[9]
2019 Filex Kiprotich  Kenya 2:09:49 Stella Barsosio  Kenya 2:24:33
2018 Elijah Kemboi  Kenya 2:13:37 Mercy Kibarus  Kenya 2:31:24
2017 Shota Hattori  Japan 2:15:16 Makda Harun  Ethiopia 2:28:02
2016 Tomohiro Tanigawa  Japan 2:12:11 Makda Harun  Ethiopia 2:32:22
2015 Hisanori Kitajima  Japan 2:12:44 Meriem Wangari  Kenya 2:34:38
2014 Gebo Burka  Ethiopia 2:11:18 Biruktayit Degefa  Ethiopia 2:29:42
2013 Willy Koitile  Kenya 2:13:48 Biruktayit Degefa  Ethiopia 2:32:46
2012 Yuki Kawauchi  Japan 2:11:52 Mitsuko Hirose  Japan 2:48:49
2011 Joel Kemboi  Kenya 2:17:31 Letay Negash  Ethiopia 2:43:22
2010 Issac Serem  Kenya 2:25:17 Helen Stanton  Australia 2:49:58
2009 Julius Seurei  Kenya 2:17:07 Naoko Tsuchiya  Japan 2:52:46
2008 Julius Maritim  Kenya 2:19:01 Lisa Flint  Australia 2:47:43
2007 Julius Maritim  Kenya 2:14:38 Naoko Tsuchiya  Japan 2:43:10
2006 Julius Maritim  Kenya 2:19:51 Naoko Tsuchiya  Japan 2:48:44
2005 Julius Maritim  Kenya 2:21:47 Ruth Kingston  New Zealand 2:53:56
2004 Oswald Revelian  Tanzania 2:21:13 Rina Hill  Australia 2:39:46
2003 Oswald Revelian  Tanzania 2:26:01 Tausi Juma  Ethiopia 2:46:23
2002 Stephen Bwiret  Kenya 2:17:30 Heather Turland  Australia 2:51:06
2001 Damon Harris  New Zealand 2:25:49 Krishna Stanton  Australia 2:38:11
Source (up to 2018): "Previous Winners". Sydney Running Festival. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018.

Multiple wins

By country

Country Total Men's Women's
 Kenya 16 12 4
 Japan 8 4 4
 Ethiopia 8 1 7
 Australia 5 0 5
 New Zealand 2 1 1
 Tanzania 2 2 0

Notes

  1. ^ Before being cancelled, it was postponed to 8 November 2020, with all registrants given the option of obtaining a 75% refund or transferring their entry to another runner or to 2021.[8]
  2. ^ The marathons do not have to be run on consecutive years.[15]
  3. ^ a b h:m:s

References

  1. ^ "Results List".
  2. ^ "Event FAQs". Sydney Running Festival. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Payten, Iain (6 January 2023). "Sydney chasing Kipchoge in race to join world's 'major' marathons". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". www.worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ a b "Home - Sydney Running Festival | Sydney Running Festival". sydneyrunningfestival.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Sydney Marathon: 2001 Results". Coolrunning. 28 October 2001. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Blackmores Sydney Marathon Awarded IAAF Road Race Gold Label". Sydney Running Festival. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Event Update".
  9. ^ a b c "Blackmores Sydney Running Festival - Event Update September 2020". 14 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Virtual Event- FAQ". Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Sydney Marathon Passes Stage One Of Abbott World Marathon Majors Assessment". 28 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Course FAQs". Sydney Running Festival. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Marathon". Archived from the original on 26 February 2020.
  14. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20200728203650/https://sydneyrunningfestival.com.au/bluelineledgends
  15. ^ a b "Bridge Club". Archived from the original on 28 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Entry details". Sydney Running Festival. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  17. ^ Taouk, Maryanne (17 September 2023). "Sydney marathon winner dedicates race to the Moroccan quake survivors". ABC News. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
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