Kenya’s marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge endured a tough outing at the TCS Sydney Marathon on Sunday, finishing ninth in 2:08:31 as Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros Kebedew stormed to victory in a course record 2:06:06.

The race, held for the first time as part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors circuit, saw Kipchoge unable to summon his trademark dominance. Instead, it was Kiros who seized the spotlight, improving the previous course mark and securing his maiden World Marathon Majors win.

“The competition was very tough,” said Kiros. “They are strong fields, but we worked together and now we are here.”

He was followed by compatriot Addisu Gobena Aga in 2:06:16 and Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana in 2:06:47.

Kenya still had a strong presence in the top ten, with Edward Cheserek placing fifth in 2:07:38, Laban Korir seventh in 2:08:06, Felix Kiptoo Kirwa eighth in 2:08:18, Kipchoge ninth, and Victor Kipchirchir closing the top ten in 2:09:08.

In the women’s race, Dutch Olympic champion Sifan Hassan underlined her remarkable rise in the marathon by destroying the course record with a 2:18:22 finish, more than three minutes faster than the previous mark of 2:21:40 set last year.

Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei pushed her hard for much of the race before eventually settling for second in 2:18:56.

For Hassan, it was yet another landmark victory, adding to her wins at the 2023 London and Chicago marathons, plus her Olympic triumph in Paris last year.