Kibet runs all-comers record at Blackmores Sydney Marathon

Over 36,000 runners and walkers took over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge today, marking the 20th anniversary of Australia’s largest running festival, Blackmores Sydney Running Festival. Today’s event marked the first year of a three-year candidacy period for the Blackmores Sydney Marathon to join the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors and the opportunity to become a major annual tourism event.

The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

The event took place on a spectacular Spring Day in Sydney where the men’s marathon and women’s half marathon records fell.

In a spectacular finish in the Blackmores Sydney Marathon, Moses Kibet (Kenya) sped home in a time of 02:07:03, marking the fastest marathon time ever run in Australia. The previous record was set by Yuta Shitara (Japan) in 02:07:50 on the Gold Coast in 2019.

Running closely in second place was Cosmas Matolo Muteti (Kenya) in a time of 02:07:05, with Chalu Deso Gelmisa (Ethiopia) rounding out the top three in 02:07:08. The top three men all finished under Shitara’s previous record on Australian soil.

In the women’s event, it was Tigist Girma Getachew (Ethiopia) who flew across the finish line in an impressive time of 02:25:10. Blackmores Sydney Marathon Ambassador, Naoko Takahashi (Japan) stood proudly at the finish line, cheering on the winners, having last been in Sydney during the Sydney Olympic Games, where she won gold in the marathon.

Letebrhan Haylay Gebreslasea (Ethiopia) was close behind with a time of 02:25:45 as Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet (Eritrea) completed the podium, finishing third in a time of 02:26:14.

Jun Hiromichi (Japan) took the title of the Blackmores Sydney Wheelchair Marathon male champion, completing the course in 01:52:47. Hot on his wheels was Richard Colman from Geelong, VIC from with a time of 01:53:28. Jacqueline Godfrey was the winner of the women’s wheelchair marathon (2:28:21) with Sara-Ashlee Tait second.

“It’s wonderful to be back on the road today after two years break, and to have come back strong with 36,000 participants,” said Wayne Larden, Blackmores Sydney Running Festival, Race Director.

“Blackmores Sydney Marathon took an exciting first step reigniting Sydney as a world-class marathon running destination today, in its first year as a candidate for the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

“Blackmores Sydney Marathon has the opportunity to become a major annual tourism event and we’d like to encourage athletes from all over the world to put Sydney on their bucket list. We hope that seeing athletes achieve record times, in the world’s most spectacular backdrop, will inspire runners domestically and internationally to start training for next year’s Blackmores Sydney Marathon,” Larden said.

Another race record fell in Blackmores Half Marathon, with Sinead Diver (Albert Park, VIC) crossing over the finish line in a course record time of 01:13:07. Kageyama Tomoka (Japan) followed in second in a time of 01:16:48, with Fiona Yates (Longeuville, NSW) in third in 01:22:45.

Nishizawa Yuma (Japan) took out the top spot for men in Blackmores Half Marathon in a time of 1:06:15, followed closely by Sam Hopper (Lindfield, NSW) in a time of 01:10:58 and Ben Tacey (Buderim, QLD) in 01:11:48.

The Blackmores Sydney Marathon also played host to the Australian Marathon Championships and saw Australia’s best runners vying for the National Title. Reece Edwards (Richmond, VIC) took out the men’s in 02:17:24 and Regina Wright (Dudley, NSW) took out the women’s in 02:47:40.

Full results are available here.

Runners and spectators flocked to the Blackmores Post Race Recovery Village where they enjoyed live entertainment, food, and drinks against a stunning harbour backdrop.

The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival is owned by Athletics Australia and is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Blackmores Sydney Marathon (Male):

Blackmores Sydney Marathon (Female):

Blackmores Wheelchair Marathon:

Blackmores Half Marathon (Male):

Blackmores Half Marathon (Female):

Blackmores Bridge Run (Male):

Blackmores Bridge Run (Female):

By Blackmores Sydney Running Festival
Posted: 18/9/2022