Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena sets new course record in Sydney Marathon victory

Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena set a new men’s course record as he won the Sydney Marathon yesterday, in the opening round of the autumn series of major big-city races. The Sydney Marathon was only in its second year as a major— an elite grouping of races that now totals seven, including New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and Chicago.Gobena claimed victory in 2:04:42, taking more than a minute and a half off the previous best on the hilly harbourside course run in perfect conditions. The 21-year-old, who competed as a javelin thrower until 2023, broke away with compatriot Chimdessa Debele Gudeta from a six-man lead pack inside the final two kilometres. Gobena then accelerated on the downhill finish to the Sydney Opera House, winning by four seconds. Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho was third