Everything you need to know ahead of Sydney

Reigning marathon world champions Alphonce Simbu and Peres Jepchirchir will be sprinkling some gold dust on Sydney on Sunday but the pair will be pushed all the way in their efforts to win the city’s second Major title.

After a stunning inaugural Abbott World Marathon Major 12 months ago, which saw Sifan Hassan triumph and Eliud Kipchoge steal the city’s heart, the series returns to Sydney for its second Major since being announced as the seventh Major.

With world champions, runners defending titles and more than 200 trying to earn an eighth Star, it looks set to be another memorable week in New South Wales.

Can Simbu claim first Major title?
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Tanzanian Simbu has enjoyed a fabulous 12 months which began with that sensational gold medal in Tokyo.

His dip on the line in the Olympic Stadium saw him nick a photo finish win over Amanal Petros, becoming Tanzania’s first world champion in the process.

The 34-year-old backed that up with an impressive second place in Boston in April, mirroring his position 12 months earlier.

Could Sydney be the race where Simbu turns silver into a first Major gold?

He won’t have it easy though. Ethiopian Sisay Lemma is a two-time Major winner, in London and Boston, and his rapid 2:01:48 in Valencia almost four years ago is the quickest of all the runners lining up in Sydney.

Hailemaryam Kiros knows the Sydney course well having won the city’s first Major 12 months ago and he will be hoping that experience sets him up for a successful defence.

Also in the shake-up is Kenyan Vincent Ngetich who is aiming to finish top of the podium after finishing runner-up in Berlin in 2023, behind Eliud Kipchoge, and third twice in Tokyo.

Can anyone stop Jepchirchir?
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Kenyan superstar Jepchirchir is the most-decorated runner to line up in Sydney and is the one to beat despite missing London due to injury.

The reigning world champion has won three Majors – New York, Boston and London – and claimed Olympic gold in 2020.

Fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai will hope to take advantage of Jepchirchir’s injury lay-off and her recent displays – second in Shanghai, third in Chicago and two top-six finishes in Boston – indicate she could be a threat.

Elsewhere, Tanzania record holder Magdalena Shauri produced a breakthrough performance with a podium finish in Chicago while Stella Chesang made history when she became the first Ugandan woman to win a World Athletics Platinum Label marathon at Osaka.

Ethiopia's Ruti Aga continued her extraordinary consistency with another victory in Xiamen, while compatriot Haven Hailu produced a commanding performance to win the Seoul Marathon.

More glory for Weir?
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The men’s wheelchair race is wide open with Marcel Hug not travelling to Sydney.

Britain's David Weir will be hoping to further cement his legendary status in the sport with victory in Australia and he heads Down Under full of confidence having smashed the course record to win the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in May.

Chinese racer Luo Xingchaun will have a say in the matter. The 23-year-old has compiled a series of impressive results this season, including finishing runner-up in London, and sits second in the Elite Series behind Hug.

Xingchaun will have his eyes on a debut Majors win with Hug absent.

History beckons for Schär
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The women’s race could be a thriller based on the unpredictable nature of this season’s results.

Manuela Schär won last time out in Cape Town and victory in Sydney would mean she has won all seven Majors.

But a number of athletes will be hoping to ruin her chance of creating history by joining Hug as the only other person to win the AWMM clean sweep.

Other racers pushing for gold are Eden Rainbow-Cooper, who stunned everyone with an utterly dominant display to win in Boston, and Tatyana McFadden, who was only a sprint finish away from winning in London in April.

Star chasers
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With Sydney and more recently Cape Town being added to the series, a huge number of runners will be hoping to cross the line under the shadow of the Opera House and collect a seventh or eighth star.

More than 2,500 runners will be completing their seventh Major while in excess of 200 will be finishing their eighth.