Australian runners have been given a slice of historic news today, as it’s been confirmed that the Sydney Marathon has satisfied the conditions to be granted the status of a World Marathon Major. In a move that’s been long forecast – especially after the Sydney half marathon had to pay the price this year – Sydney has become the seventh major on the world marathon tour, joining Boston, New York, Chicago, London, Berlin, and Tokyo.
Keen geographers will observe that all six of those cities are north of the Equator, which also grants the Sydney Marathon the distinction of becoming the first World Marathon Major in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia’s biggest marathon is expected to become even more of a bucket list destination for marathon runners, after the 2023 and then 2024 editions of the race satisfied the Abbott World Marathon Majors committee, who can bestow the major status.
It’s the first new major marathon in twelve years, since Tokyo joined the club, and 2025 will be the first year of Sydney’s major status. The iconic course, which was tweaked this year to start at a slightly different location in North Sydney, and involve fewer turns, will continue to take in the sights of the Harbour Bridge, Centennial Park, the Royal Botanic Garden, and conclude at the Sydney Opera House.
Organisers expect around 35,000 runners to take part in Australia’s first major marathon, for which the general entry ballot is expected to open in early December, 2024. You can find out more on the TCS Sydney Marathon website. Will you be lacing up your running shoes and taking on the world’s newest major marathon?