Peres Jepchirchir added another prestigious marathon title to her collection on Sunday after producing a commanding performance to win the women’s race at the TCS Sydney Marathon in Australia.The Olympic champion crossed the line in 2:18:31, finishing 3:40 ahead of compatriot Irine Cheptai after gradually breaking away from the early leaders and taking control of the race in the second half.##NAJAVA_MECA_9922053##Jepchirchir stayed close to early leader Priscah Cherono before making her decisive move after the 30km mark.She reached 35km in 1:54:47, exactly on course-record pace, and continued to stretch her advantage as the race entered its final stages.By 40km, the 32-year-old had built a lead of around two minutes over CheptaiShe left her to complete the final kilometres largely unchallenged.She eventually finished just nine seconds outside the course record set by Sifan Hassan last year.Ethiopia’s Shure Demise took third in 2:22:33, while compatriot Haven Hailu finished fourth, 4:25 behind the winner.Wanyonyi reveals suffering from stomach bug ahead of Zurich DL winThe Sydney triumph adds another major marathon crown to Jepchirchir’s remarkable collection, which already includes victories in Boston, New York and London.She also won Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021 and has established herself as one of the most decorated marathon runners of her generation.Her London success in 2024 was particularly significant as she clocked 2:16:16 to set the women’s-only marathon world record, a mark achieved without male pacemakers.Jepchirchir aiming for podium finish ahead of marathon return in SydneyJepchirchir also owns an impressive history over the half marathon, having won the World Half Marathon Championships in 2016 and 2020.Her 1:05:16 clocking in Gdynia in 2020 remains the women's-only half marathon world record.Gobena smashes Sydney course recordThe men's race belonged to Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena, who produced a late surge to claim his second career marathon victory while rewriting the Sydney course record.Gobena emerged from a seven-man leading group in the closing stages before breaking clear alongside compatriot Chimdessa Debele.The two Ethiopians battled for victory before Gobena edged away to win in 2:04:42.##NAJAVA_MECA_9922034##Debele followed three seconds later in 2:04:45, while Lesotho's Tebello Ramakongoana completed the podium in 2:04:57.The depth of the men's field was underlined by the fact that all of the first seven finishers went inside the previous course record of 2:06:06 set by Hailemaryam Kiros.The victory marks another significant step in Gobena's rapid rise since making his marathon debut in Dubai in 2024.Wanyonyi, Cherotich shine as Kenyans dominate Zurich Diamond LeagueHe immediately announced himself on the international stage by winning the race, before finishing 21st at the New York City Marathon later that year in 2:14:12.
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