Sydney just changed the game. Honestly, if you weren't standing by the Opera House on August 31, 2025, you missed the moment Australian distance running finally shed its "local event" skin. The Sydney Marathon 2025 results didn't just provide a list of fast times; they signaled the birth of the world’s seventh Abbott World Marathon Major.
It was loud. It was hilly. And for a lot of people, it was surprisingly fast despite the elevation.
Sifan Hassan, the woman who seemingly never sleeps, basically dismantled the course record. Meanwhile, the GOAT, Eliud Kipchoge, showed us he’s human after all. People expected a world record attempt, but Sydney's undulating asphalt had other plans. It’s not Berlin. It’s not London. It’s Sydney—and that means 317 meters of climbing that will absolutely destroy your quads if you aren't careful.
The Elite Shakeup: Hassan and Kiros Dominate
Everyone was talking about the "Major" debut. The pressure was massive. Yet, the elites delivered performances that made the 300,000 spectators forget about the early morning chill.
Sifan Hassan is a bit of a wildcard, right? She’s the person who wins Olympic gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and the marathon in a single week. In Sydney, she didn't just win; she obliterated the previous mark. She crossed the line in 2:18:22, taking more than three minutes off the course record. She admitted afterward she was "dead" in the last five kilometers because she pushed too hard early. That’s the thing about Hassan—she runs on pure guts.
On the men’s side, Hailemaryam Kiros of Ethiopia snatched the win in 2:06:06. He held off his countryman, 20-year-old Addisu Gobena, in a sprint finish that felt more like a track race than a 42km slog.
Elite Men’s Top Results
Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) took first with that 2:06:06 course record. Addisu Gobena (ETH) was right on his heels at 2:06:16. The podium was rounded out by Tebello Ramakongoana from Lesotho, who clocked a 2:06:47. Then you had Mustapha Houdadi (2:07:17) and Edward Cheserek (2:07:38).
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Wait, where was Kipchoge?
The legend finished ninth. 2:08:31. For anyone else, that’s a lifetime achievement. For Eliud, it was a day where the legs just didn't have that "No Human Is Limited" spring. He started fading around the 33km mark. He was gracious, though. He told reporters he had nothing left to prove and was just happy to help Australia become a "running nation."
Elite Women’s Top Results
Behind Hassan's 2:18:22, Brigid Kosgei (KEN) took second in 2:18:56. Both women ran faster than any female had ever run on Australian soil. Workenesh Edesa, the 2024 winner, took third in 2:22:15. Kumeshi Sichala (2:22:50) and Evaline Chirchir (2:23:13) filled out the top five.
Why the Finishers' Numbers Matter
The vibe was different this year. Since Sydney is now a Major, the "Six Star Finishers" are now chasing a seventh star. This drove massive international participation.
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Out of roughly 34,000 starters, 32,979 runners officially became finishers. That’s a 96.6% finish rate. Pretty incredible considering the course profile.
Most people finished right around the 4-hour mark. In fact, over 3,100 people crossed the line in that specific "sub-4" window. If you’ve ever run a marathon, you know that’s where the real party—and the real pain—is.
The Local Heroes: Australian Championship Results
While the East Africans and Europeans took the overall titles, the battle for the Australian Marathon Championship was a separate drama.
Leanne Pompeani was the first Aussie woman home, clocking a 2:24:47 for 7th place overall. She was followed by Jessica Stenson (2:28:56) and the ageless Lisa Weightman (2:29:34).
For the men, Haftu Strintzos made a massive debut. He was the top Australian with a 2:11:27, finishing 14th overall. Thomas Do Canto (2:13:25) and Brett Robinson (2:15:00) took the other podium spots for the national title.
It Wasn't Just About Speed: The Quirky Records
Sydney has this weird, awesome partnership with Guinness World Records. You had 19 people trying to do something ridiculous while running 42.2 kilometers.
13 of them actually pulled it off.
- Mohd Syahidan Bin Alias ran a 2:44:12 in a school uniform. Why? Who knows, but it’s a record.
- Masakazu Konno dressed as a Star Wars character and clocked 3:03:20.
- Daniel Byrnes wore 53 pairs of underpants. I can’t even imagine the chafing.
- Andrew Reid ran as a surfer in 3:17:37.
These stories are what make the Sydney Marathon 2025 results more than just a spreadsheet of numbers. It’s about the person in the Burmese dress or the guy in the glass costume (Michael Daly, 3:41:46) proving that "Major" status doesn't mean we have to take ourselves too seriously.
The Wheelchair Division: Records Shattered
The "Silver Bullet" Marcel Hug did what he does best. He didn't just win; he destroyed a record that had stood since 2011. Hug finished in 1:27:15, nearly ten minutes faster than Kurt Fearnley's old mark.
Susannah Scaroni (USA) mirrored that dominance in the women's wheelchair race, setting a new Australian all-comers record of 1:44:52.
What This Means for Your 2026 Goals
If you're looking at these results and thinking about entering the ballot for 2026, there are a few things to keep in mind. Sydney is officially "in the club" now.
- The Course is Hard: Don't look at Hassan's 2:18 and think it’s a flat track. There’s a net elevation loss, but the "rollers" in Centennial Park and the climb back over the bridge will sap your energy.
- The Major Atmosphere is Real: With 300,000 spectators, the crowd support is now on par with New York or London.
- The Ballot is Competitive: 79,000 people applied for 2025. Expect that number to top 100,000 for 2026.
To verify your own time or look up a friend, the official TCS Sydney Marathon app and the World Athletics database are the only spots for "official" gun and net times. If you finished, you’ve earned the right to brag—you're part of the first-ever group to finish Sydney as a World Marathon Major.
Actionable Next Steps for Runners
If you're aiming for the 2026 edition, start by analyzing the 2025 splits. Most runners who "bonked" did so between the 30km and 35km marks where the hills bite the hardest. Incorporate hill repeats into your long runs. Don't just train for distance; train for the specific "up and down" rhythm of the Sydney Harbour. Keep an eye on the Abbott World Marathon Majors portal for your "Sydney Star" eligibility if you're a multi-major chaser.