The Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and the Hailemaryam Kiros of Ethiopia organized course records to win the titles in the Sydney marathon on Sunday when the race entered a new era as part of the World Marathon Majors series.
The Dutch Hassan showed her class to cross the line in the city’s opera in two hours, 18 minutes and 22 seconds, very free of the former World Record Kosgei of Kenia with the champion Workeneh Edesa Edesa last year.
In the male race, Kiros broke the main package with Addisu Gobena in approximately the 30 -kilometer mark and beat his compatriot to win at 2:06:06. Gobena was second, while Tebello Ramakongoana de Lesotho was a third.
Kenya’s great marathon, Eliud Kipchoge, who turned 40 last year, left the main package when the two Ethiopians separated and ended ninth at 2:08:31.
Sydney put his best face with a bright sun and cold temperatures when the race joined New York, London, Boston, Chicago, Tokyo and Berlin in the elite elder circuit.
Ramakongoana led the best men through the iconic bridge of the city port at the head of the field of about 35,000 runners, but was soon subsumed in a leading package of 25 people
Gobena, a 20 -year -old girl who directed her fourth marathon, made her movement when the leaders crossed the Centennial Park, but Kiros stayed with him and was a comfortable winner in the fastest marathon time ever on Australian soil.
“The competition was very hard, this was a strong and strong field,” said Kiros, who was fifth in the Berlin marathon earlier this year.
“But we work together as partners and now we are here.”
Hassan said he paid the price for his quick start in the last part of the race, but clung to winning his fourth marathon in six openings, including his triumph at the Paris Olympic Games last year.
“In the last 10 kilometers I was thinking ‘Oh God, please I don’t want any drama, I just want a normal end,” said the 32 -year -old man born in Ethiopia.
“I pressed too much at the beginning and learned my lesson … now I know that it doesn’t work. I am very happy and very honored. It’s history, it’s the first important marathon and I am the first winner.”
It was only the second edition of the 25 -year -old marathon in the current design.
The Hassan’s brand improved the winning time of Edesa Edesa last year of 2:21:41, while Kiros improved the 2024 Kenyan Kiporir brand of 2:06:18.
Kipchoge, who won two Olympic marathons and 11 main for his glorious race, said before the race that still competes at 40 was an achievement in itself.
“It wasn’t my day today,” he said. “Above all, I have crossed the finish line to empower the people of Australia. To make Australia a nation.”
