Peris Jepchirchir led compatriot Irine Cheptai to a Kenyan one-two in the women’s 42-kilometre race at the Sydney Marathon on Sunday, while no Kenyan man featured in the top five as Ethiopians dominated the men’s podium.
The 32-year-old Jepchirchir clocked 2:18:31 to win the Sydney Marathon in her first marathon since a stress fracture forced her to withdraw from the London Marathon in April.
Jepchirchir finished 3:40 ahead of Cheptai, who crossed the line in 2:22:11. Ethiopia’s Shure Demise was third in 2:22:33, while compatriot Haven Hailu finished fourth, 4:25 behind the winner.
Jepchirchir’s winning time was just nine seconds outside the course record of 2:18:22 set by Dutch Olympic champion Sifan Hassan last year. It was also the second-fastest women’s marathon time recorded in Sydney.
The Kenyan had returned to marathon racing after an eight-month absence, having last competed over the distance on December 7, 2025, when she posted a personal best 2:14:43 in Valencia, Spain. She finished 43 seconds behind Joyciline Jepkosgei’s course record of 2:14:00.
A stress fracture diagnosed after the Valencia race subsequently disrupted her preparations and forced her out of the London Marathon.
Jepchirchir’s Sydney victory is her fourth World Marathon Major title at a different race. She previously won New York in 2021, Boston in 2022 and London in 2024.
She is also the Tokyo 2021 Olympic champion and reigning world champion after winning a dramatic sprint finish against Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in Tokyo last September.
Cheptai, whose personal best is 2:17:51, was 4:20 outside her best time, while Demise, the Paris Marathon winner in April, finished 3:59 outside her 2:18:34 personal best. Hailu, who won the Seoul Marathon in March, completed the top four.
The elite races started at 6:30 a.m. local time from Miller Street in North Sydney and finished outside the Sydney Opera House, with 22 women and 30 men on the starting line.
Sydney’s course, however, is not eligible for world records because of its elevation drop. World Athletics regulations allow a net descent of no more than one metre per kilometre, while the Sydney route drops 83 metres from Miller Street to the Opera House.
Despite the descent, the course is demanding, with 313 metres of climbing, including sections on the Harbour Bridge early in the race and in the eastern suburbs late on the course.
In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena won in 2:04:42, improving Hailemaryam Kiros’s course record by 1:24. Gobena had finished runner-up in Sydney last year in 2:06:16.
Chimdessa Debele Gudeta made it an Ethiopian one-two in 2:04:46, while Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana was third in 2:04:57.
Tanzania’s world champion Alphonce Simbu finished fourth, while Ethiopian star Sisay Lemma, the fastest man in the field based on entry times, also failed to make the podium.
Kenya’s best finisher was Vincent Ngetich, who placed seventh in 2:05:28. Kennedy Kimutai was ninth in 2:06:50, while Gilbert Kibet came 10th in 2:07:13.
Jepchirchir pocketed USD100,000 for victory, with Cheptai earning USD83,000 and Demise USD56,000. Prize money from fourth to 10th ranged from USD35,000 to USD2,800.
With Sydney now added to her collection, Jepchirchir has won four of the seven World Marathon Majors. Chicago, Berlin and Tokyo remain the only majors yet to be conquered by the Kenyan star.
