Eliud Kipchoge/ FILETwo-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge is set for a heavyweight clash with two-time Tokyo Marathon winner Birhanu Legese after Sydney Marathon organisers on Thursday unveiled a star-studded men’s field for the August 31 showdown.
Kipchoge, who had already been confirmed as the headline act, will now line up against his NN Running teammate in what is promising to be one of the most competitive marathons on Australian soil.
Race director Wayne Larden said: “When you look at the depth of this year’s men’s field, it’s not just star-studded and fast, it’s exceptionally deep.”
“We have multiple athletes capable of running under the course record, rising stars on the brink of global breakthrough, and of course, Eliud Kipchoge, the greatest marathoner of all time.”
Brimini Kipkorir owns the course record of 2:06:18 from last year. After his confirmation in March, Kipchoge relayed his excitement about making his Oceania debut.
“I am so excited. This is not only my first time racing the Sydney Marathon, but also my first time running in Oceania. Competing in Australia is a huge opportunity for me. Sydney looks like a stunning city with so many iconic sights. It’s going to be a new and special experience for me,” said the former world record holder.
However, the 40-year-old enters Sydney seeking redemption after a turbulent start to the season.
He finished a distant sixth at the London Marathon in April, clocking 2:05:25. Sabastian Sawe stole the limelight, cruising to a 2:02:27 triumph ahead of Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37) and Alexander Munyao (2:04:20).
Kipchoge was targeting a record fifth London title after triumphs in 2015 (2:04:00), 2016 (2:03:05), 2018 (2:04:17) and 2019 (2:02:37).
Kipchoge’s 2024 campaign was equally challenging, falling short in his quest for a hat-trick of Olympic titles after failing to finish the marathon in the Paris Games in August.
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola won in 2:06:26 ahead of Belgium’s Bashir Abdi (2:06:47) and Benson Kipruto (2:07:00).
The Paris disappointment came on the back of a 10th-place finish at the Tokyo Marathon in 2:06:50.
Now, the five-time Berlin Marathon champion heads to Sydney eager to prove he still has the credentials to compete at the top.
Legese, too, is chasing form after a shaky start to 2025, where he settled for 11th in Tokyo in 2:06:06.
Joining the Kenyan charge is 2023 Berlin Marathon runner-up Vincent Ng’etich, who is fresh from a third-place finish in Tokyo this year in 2:04:00.
Adding depth to the formidable Kenyan contingent are Bernard Koech, Kenneth Kipkemoi, Cornelius Kiplagat, Laban Korir, Victor Kipchirchir and Edward Cheserek.
