Africa once again shone on the streets of Sydney. Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena and Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir won the men’s and women’s races at the Sydney Marathon on Sunday, with Gobena setting a new course record.
At just 21 years old, Addisu Gobena delivered an outstanding performance. The Ethiopian, who finished second in last year’s race, waited until the final kilometer to make his decisive move, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 42 seconds.
He finished four seconds ahead of his compatriot Chimdessa Debele Gudeta, while Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana completed the podium. Gobena improved the previous course record by nearly one minute and 30 seconds.
In the women’s race, Peres Jepchirchir gave her rivals little chance. The Kenyan dominated the race and crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds, nearly four minutes ahead of her closest challengers.
The Kenyan champion finished just nine seconds short of the record set by Dutch runner Sifan Hassan. This latest victory adds to an already impressive record on the international marathon circuit, following notable triumphs in Boston, New York and London.
The 2026 Sydney Marathon also set a new participation record, with nearly 40,000 athletes taking part in the 42.19-kilometer race.
Having joined the prestigious World Marathon Majors circuit in 2025, the Sydney Marathon now stands alongside London, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
With Gobena and Jepchirchir’s victories, Sydney has further cemented its status as a major event on the global athletics calendar, while once again showcasing Africa’s leading marathon stars.