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, and from 2025, as part of the World Marathon Majors[3][4][5]
| Sydney Marathon | |
|---|---|
 Sydney Opera House near the finish line in 2005 | |
| Date | September |
| Location | Sydney, Australia |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | Marathon (also 10 km, 4.2 km) |
| Primary sponsor | TCS |
| Established | 2001 |
| Course records | Men's: 2:06:18 (2024) Brimin KipkorirWomen's: 2:21:41 (2024)  Workenesh Edesa |
| Official site | Sydney Marathon |
| Participants | 13,297 finishers (2023)[1] |
The Sydney Marathon also includes a 10K run, and a 4.2 km (2.6 mi) race.[6]
History
editThe Sydney Marathon started in April 2000, following the same course as the marathon during the 2000 Summer Olympics.[3][7] 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.[7]
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[8] 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][10][11] 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.[12] The marathon was confirmed as the seventh major on 4 November 2024 following the 2024 race.[5]
Course
editThe marathon course initially followed the same course that was used in the 2000 Summer Olympics.[7]
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."[13]
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][14]
Other awards
editTo date, eight runners have competed in every Sydney Marathon, and have been dubbed "Blue Line Legends".[15]
In addition, runners who have completed at least 10 marathons are eligible to be inducted into the Bridge Club.[16][b]
Other races
editIn 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.[17]
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.[6]
Winners
editKey: Course record
- Source (up to 2018): "Previous Winners". Sydney Running Festival. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018.
Multiple wins
edit
|
|
By country
edit| Country | Total | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya |
17 | 13 | 4 |
| Ethiopia |
9 | 1 | 8 |
 Japan |
8 | 4 | 4 |
 Australia |
5 | 0 | 5 |
 New Zealand |
2 | 1 | 1 |
 Tanzania |
2 | 2 | 0 |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Results List".
- ^ "Event FAQs". Sydney Running Festival. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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) - ^ a b "Sydney Marathon to join elite ranks of world marathon majors alongside London and New York City". ABC News. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Home - Sydney Running Festival | Sydney Running Festival". sydneyrunningfestival.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Sydney Marathon: 2001 Results". Coolrunning. 28 October 2001. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Blackmores Sydney Marathon Awarded IAAF Road Race Gold Label". Sydney Running Festival. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ "Event Update".
- ^ a b c "Blackmores Sydney Running Festival - Event Update September 2020". 14 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
- ^ "Virtual Event- FAQ". Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
- ^ "Sydney Marathon Passes Stage One Of Abbott World Marathon Majors Assessment". 28 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "Course FAQs". Sydney Running Festival. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Marathon". Archived from the original on 26 February 2020.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20200728203650/https://sydneyrunningfestival.com.au/bluelineledgends
- ^ a b "Bridge Club". Archived from the original on 28 July 2020.
- ^ "Entry details". Sydney Running Festival. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Taouk, Maryanne (17 September 2023). "Sydney marathon winner dedicates race to the Moroccan quake survivors". ABC News. Retrieved 17 September 2023.