Marcel Hug annihilated the course record as he coasted to victory at the TCS Sydney Marathon.
The Swiss 39-year-old smashed Kurt Fearnley’s long-standing mark with a 1:27:15 finish as he earned his seventh AbbottWMM star and continued his domination of the men’s sport.
“We made history today,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. It was a big challenge for me but I enjoyed the last 5k when I was passing all the runners (going in the opposite direction). It was so amazing. I was alone very early and just tried to keep my pace.
“I need some time to realize what has happened, it’s a great moment for me.”
Tomoki Suzuki claimed second place over six minutes behind Hug, with Gerard Schipper finishing third.
America’s Susannah Scaroni won the women’s race in similarly dominant fashion. The 34-year-old crossed the line in 1:44: 52, more than eight minutes ahead of Great Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper, with Brazilian Vanessa De Souza third.
“I love hills and you guys delivered those for me today, she said. “The crowds were amazing. I loved the course and I’m grateful to be here.”
Scaroni now has two wins in the current series after triumphing in Boston, matching Catherine Debrunner’s pair of victories in Tokyo and London.
Hug’s Sydney win now sits alongside London and Boston wins this year to place him out in front on the men’s leaderboard.
The next race for the wheelchair athletes will be the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 21.
