Kipchoge heads elite field in Sydney

Eliud Kipchoge will be the star attraction after the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS unveiled their men’s elite field.

Kipchoge is an 11-time Abbott World Marathon Majors champion, including victories at the TCS London Marathon (four), BMW Berlin Marathon (five), Bank of America Chicago Marathon and Tokyo Marathon.

The former world-record holder is the second-fastest marathoner in history, with an official personal best of 2:01:09 set at the 2022 BMW Berlin Marathon.

The Kenyan legend also won Olympic golds in Rio and Tokyo 2020 and is the only human in history to run a marathon in under two hours, clocking 1:59:40 at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in 2019.

However, Kipchoge won’t have it all his own way with 14 other athletes holding personal bests equal or faster than the current course record.

Joining Kipchoge on the start line is fellow Kenyan Vincent Ngetich, one of the most exciting young athletes in global distance running. At just 26 years of age, Ngetich is currently ranked ninth in the world and has never finished lower than fourth in an AbbottWMM.

He burst onto the scene with a blistering 2:03:13 at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, the third-fastest debut marathon in history, and has since backed it up with consecutive podium finishes in Tokyo, placing third in both the 2024 and 2025 editions of the race.

Another frontrunner is Dawit Wolde, who holds a personal best of 2:03:48 and recently claimed victory at the 2025 Xiamen Marathon, setting a new course record with a time of 2:06:06.

An Olympian and World Championship finalist on the track, the Ethiopian has successfully transitioned to the marathon and is now regarded as one of Ethiopia’s top long-distance prospects.

The depth of the elite male field is further bolstered by Birhanu Legese, a two-time Tokyo Marathon champion (2019, 2020). Legese holds the ninth fastest marathon time in history, 2:02:48 set at he Berlin Marathon in 2019.

Also drawing attention is Edward Cheserek, a 17-time NCAA champion for the University of Oregon and now a rising force on the roads. In 2023 he made his marathon debut at the TCS New York City Marathon, finishing eighth in a time of 2:11:07, going on to clock an impressive 2:05:24 at the Valencia marathon in 2024.

Yuki Kawauchi, one of the most compelling and unconventional figures in marathon history, is heading to Sydney chasing an impressive seventh star.

Known as the 'Citizen Runner', Kawauchi rose to fame as a full-time high school administrator who trained solo and raced marathons on weekends, famously refusing sponsorships to remain eligible as a civil servant.

He stunned the world by winning the 2018 Boston Marathon in brutal conditions and now holds the Guinness World Record for most sub-2:20 marathons, having achieved the feat over 100 times.

With a personal best of 2:07:27 and a reputation for consistency, grit and humility, Kawauchi continues to inspire runners globally and will no doubt be a fan favourite on the streets of Sydney.

Also joining the race are a strong cohort of Australian contenders, led by former national record holder Brett Robinson, 2:07:31, Olympian Liam Adams, 2:08:39 and rising talent Haftu Strintzos, who will make his TCS Sydney Marathon debut after an impressive NCAA career in the United States.

He will be joined by Tasmanian debutant Samuel Clifford, who is in outstanding form after breaking the Australian 10km road record in a time of 27:34 in Japan, followed by a Tasmanian Half Marathon record of 1:01:49 at the 2025 Gold Coast Half.

Two-time national marathon champion Thomas Do Canto (AUS) and 2023 Melbourne Marathon winner Reece Edwards (AUS) complete the strong contingent of home-grown elites.

“When you look at the depth of this year’s men’s field, it’s not just star-studded and fast, it’s exceptionally deep,” said Race Director Wayne Larden.

“We have multiple athletes capable of running under the course record, rising stars on the brink of global breakthrough, and of course, Eliud Kipchoge, the greatest marathoner of all time.

"We’ve also focussed on Australian elites and it's exciting to see so many top Aussies lining up alongside world-class internationals in our first year as an Abbott World Marathon Major.

“For Australian fans and athletes alike, this is a rare opportunity to witness the very edge of human performance unfold on home soil.”

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