For the first time ever, the Sydney Marathon will be run as part of the World Marathon Majors. Last fall, the race was officially named the newest member of the global series, joining the original six races: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York City, and Tokyo. The new distinction also attracted a stellar elite field to the southern hemisphere this year.
Expect to see some of the world’s fastest marathoners, including former world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge and Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, in tactical battles on the hilliest of the seven majors.
The marathon course begins in North Sydney, goes over the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and finishes in front of the famous Sydney Opera House. The course also has the most elevation gain of any major at 1,040 feet. The weather forecast shows a slight breeze in the morning with temperatures starting in the mid-40s and reaching a high of 67 degrees, ideal for long-distance running.
Here’s everything you need to know, including broadcast information and storylines, heading into the race.
How to Watch the 2025 Sydney Marathon
The Sydney Marathon will start at 6:30 a.m. AEST on Sunday, August 31, which corresponds to 4:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 30. The event will be live streamed on FloTrack (subscription required) starting at 4:00 p.m. EDT.
What to Watch at the 2025 Sydney Marathon
On the men’s side, Kipchoge leads the charge in his first race since finishing Download Your Training Plan in April. The 2:05:25 performance in the UK marked a comeback of sorts for the two-time Olympic gold medalist, who dropped out of the 2024 Olympic marathon, the first DNF of his career. At 40 years old, the Kenyan might be on the tailend of his legendary career, but London showed he’s still very much a contender who’s maintaining his legacy as the greatest men’s marathoner of all time.
In an interview with Olympics.com, Kipchoge said he had “nothing more to prove,” but he alluded to still chasing a fast time on the hills in Australia this weekend. “I think we will run a good course in Sydney, despite it being a tough course, up and down,” Kipchoge said. “But the course record is 2:06, and I think we can push to run a good time in honor of the city joining the World Marathon Majors.”
Kipchoge will be joined by fellow Kenyan Vincent Ngetich, who is quickly rising through the ranks. Since making an impressive 2:03:13 debut at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, the 26-year-old has claimed two third-place finishes at the Tokyo Marathon in the last two years.
Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde will also be chasing the podium after winning the Xiamen Marathon in 2:06 and running a 1:00:06 personal best at the Gifu Half Marathon in April.
American fans will recognize Edward Cheserek on the start line. The 17-time NCAA champion is set to run his third 26.2 after clocking a massive personal best (2:05:24) at the Valencia Marathon in December.
The women’s race will be led by Hassan, 32, the third-fastest women’s marathoner of all time. The Dutch runner, who claimed Olympic gold in the marathon days after earning bronze in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in Paris, will be looking to improve on her third-place finish in London earlier this year.
She’ll be joined by former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei, who just finished second at the Hamburg Marathon in April. The Kenyan standout has finished top two at seven marathon majors since 2017.
Last year’s champion Workenesh Edesa is returning to defend her title in Sydney, where she ran the fastest time ever on Australian soil (2:21:41). The Ethiopian runner is on a hot streak this year with victories at the Hamburg and Osaka marathons. Her countrywomen, Meseret Belete and Ashete Bekere, are also strong opponents with personal bests under 2:18:30.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
