The 2026 Sydney Marathon will take the gun on August 30, 2026. Now part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the Sydney Marathon has spared no effort in inviting big names to its start list — from last year’s Eliud Kipchoge and Hassan to this year being led by the two Tokyo World Athletics Championships marathon champions. In the women’s field, 13 athletes have run under 2:20, 9 under 2:19, and two competitors have PBs below 2:17. As the double champion of the Tokyo Olympics and the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, Kenyan star Peres Jepchirchir is the top female entrant. Her Boston and New York Marathon titles prove her strength on difficult courses, and her former women-only world record in London demonstrates her speed. Former World Cross Country champion Irine Cheptai, Tanzania national record-holder Magdalena Shauri, and Xiamen Marathon champion Ruti Aga are Jepchirchir’s main rivals. 41-year-old veteran Vivian Cheruiyot will continue to add to her legend — she also finished fifth at last year’s London Marathon. In the men’s field, 14 runners have gone under 2:05 and 3 have broken 2:03, making the fight for the podium extremely hot. Sisay Lemma, with a PB of 2:01:48, is the fastest on PBs in this field, and he will face Tanzanian Alphonce Simbu, who took gold at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Will Simbu deliver a decisive sprint at the finish in Sydney this year? In addition, last year’s Sydney Marathon champion Hailemaryam Kiros returns, while Timothy Kiplagat is hungry for a Major victory — he missed out narrowly in Tokyo and faltered in Chicago; can he realize his ambitions in Sydney? Australia’s marathon national record-holder and celebrated PE teacher Andy Buchanan will take on the world’s best on home soil. Michael Roeger, a four-time Paralympian veteran and the T46 marathon world record-holder, lends extraordinary significance to the event with his participation. Photo credits: sydney_marathon and wmmajors #Sydney Marathon#Marathon Majors#Running#TrailRunningBoom