Kenyan Moses Kibet claimed a historic victory in the Sydney Marathon on Sunday as the top three finishers all bettered the previous fastest time on Australian soil.
Kibet clocked a winning time of 2:07:03, crossing the finish-line just two seconds ahead of countryman Cosmas Muteti.
Ethiopian Chalu Deso Gelmisa — the winner of the Paris Marathon earlier this year — was third in 2:07:08.
The three Africans smashed the Australian all-comers record of 2:07:50 set by Japan’s Yuta Shitara on the Gold Coast in 2019.
Kibet termed the race as tough but with the weather conditions favourable.
“It was tough race going all the way to the finishing line I had to sprint in the final 500 metres to hold off Cosmas,” he said.
It was his first marathon win and hopes it's just a first of many.
“I am delighted with the win but am looking forward to winning more races especially the big ones like Chicago, New York, London and Berlin" added Kibet.
Kibet has had a mixed year, finishing fifth at the Seoul Marathon in April when he clocked 2:06:55 and winning the Harmonie Mutuelle semi de half marathon in Paris in 59:42
Last year, he finished sixth at the Amsterdam Marathon, clocking 2:05:20.
Ethiopia’s Tigist Girma Getachew won the women’s event in 2:25:10 ahead of compatriot Letebrhan Haylay Gebreslasea 2:25:44 and Eritrea’s Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet(2:26:13)
Jun Hiromichi won the men’s wheelchair marathon in 1:52:47, with Australian Richard Colman second in 1:53:28.
Australian Sinead Diver — who was a creditable 10th in the marathon at last year’s Tokyo Olympics — claimed victory in the women’s half-marathon at the Sydney Running Festival in a course record of 1:13:07.
Diver was also fifth in last month’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games marathon which was won by countrywoman Jess Stenson.
The Sydney marathon is in the first year of a three-year candidacy to join cities like London, Tokyo and New York to host a World Marathon Majors event. Cape Town in South Africa and Chengdu in China are also contending to become majors.
