Sydney Marathon errors mar record runs
The TCS Sydney Marathon, an Abbott World Marathon Major, saw major timing and finish-line errors. A runner who dropped out was listed as a world-record holder, and an American was mistaken for the Australian champion, despite Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena setting a 2:04:42 course record and Peres Jepchirchir winning the women's race.
More than 41,000 runners toed the starting line at the TCS Sydney Marathon on Saturday, its second year as an Abbott World Marathon Major (AWMM). While course records fell in dramatic fashion, a series of timing and finish-line errors stole some of the spotlight.
Organizers initially credited Australia's Michael Savvas with a marathon world record of 1:44:01. According to the source report, Savvas, who was competing in the men's 55-59 category, had actually dropped out at around 12.5 kilometres. The mistaken result, which would have shattered the existing world record by over 15 minutes, stood for about 90 minutes before being corrected. The source attributes the timing error to MultiSport Australia, the event timing company, and it remains unclear how the company listed the 1:44:01 result for Savvas.
Finish line confusion
Another mix-up occurred at the finish line of the race, which also served as the Australian Marathon Championships. U.S. runner Ethan Shuley, who finished 13th overall in 2:08:34, was initially believed to be the first Australian finisher. He was the first non-African runner to cross the line and was greeted with the finish-line tape. The official Australian championship results were correct, however, with Andrew Buchanan winning the national title in 2:10:14. Buchanan did not receive the honour of breaking the tape.
The errors came shortly after the marathon's 2026 medal was revealed featuring Munich's Allianz Arena instead of Sydney's Allianz Stadium, showing that even the majors can have an off day. AWMM races are held in high regard for their organization, but the source notes that even the biggest races are not immune to mistakes.
New course record set
Despite the organizational problems, the men's race produced a fast and competitive battle. Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena was awarded the victory and a new course record, winning in 2:04:42. Seven men ran under the previous course record of 2:06:06. The top five finishers were separated by just 17 seconds, making for a thrilling finish. The race featured a close finish for the podium behind Gobena. Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho and reigning marathon world champion Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania both clocked 2:04:57, with Ramakongoana edging out Simbu on the line. For more detailed race results, you can check our fixtures and stats pages.
| Position | Name | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addisu Gobena | Ethiopia | 2:04:42 |
| 2 | Tebello Ramakongoana | Lesotho | 2:04:57 |
| 3 | Alphonce Felix Simbu | Tanzania | 2:04:57 |
Jepchirchir dominates women's race
The women's race saw a dominant performance from Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir. The former Olympic champion and reigning world champion won in 2:18:31. She won by more than four minutes but narrowly missed the course record of 2:18:22, set by the Netherlands' Sifan Hassan in 2025. Fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai finished second in 2:22:11. Fans can explore more athlete profiles and season standings on our site. The Sydney Marathon joined the AWMM series in 2025, and its second year on the circuit brought a bit of chaos unfamiliar to the prestigious series.
