Ethiopia’s Gobena, Kenya’s Olympic champion Jepchirchir win Sydney Marathon

What the report says

Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena and Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir won the men’s and women’s races at the Sydney Marathon, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on AFP coverage. The race took place on Sunday, with finishes staged at the Sydney Opera House after a course that crossed the Harbour Bridge and covered 42.19 km. The event drew about 40,000 runners, a record turnout for the city marathon.

Gobena, 21, earned his first victory in a World Marathon Major after finishing second in Sydney last year. He broke away in the final kilometre and finished in 2:04:42, four seconds ahead of fellow Ethiopian Chimdessa Debele Gudeta, with Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana in third. Al Jazeera reported that his winning time also lowered the course record by nearly a minute and a half. Gobena said he had learned from last year’s result and had returned better prepared.

Jepchirchir, the Kenyan Olympic champion, won the women’s race in 2:18:31. She finished nearly four minutes ahead of compatriot Irine Cheptai, with Ethiopia’s Shure Demise Ware third. Her victory added Sydney to earlier major wins in Boston, New York and London. She told reporters the hilly course was difficult, especially in the first half, but said she was pleased with the result.

The Sydney Marathon was elevated to World Marathon Major status last year, placing it alongside other major city marathons such as London, Boston and New York.