Global medallists Gebreslase and Gebresilase to headline Sydney Marathon

Sydney, AUSTRALIA

February 16, 2023

Ethiopia's Tokyo Olympic marathon bronze medallist Degitu Azimeraw and fellow countrywoman Yalemzerf Yehualaw, the world half-marathon record-holder, will headline the elite women's field for the Sydney Marathon on September 17, organisers announced on Thursday (February 16).

Other notable names in the women's field include Kenya's Fancy Chemutai, the 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion, and Bahrain's Eunice Chumba, the 2020 Tokyo Marathon champion.

The men's field will be led by Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese, the 2021 Tokyo Marathon champion, and his compatriot Mosinet Geremew, the 2019 Dubai Marathon champion.

Other top contenders in the men's race include Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor, the 2019 New York City Marathon champion, and Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei, the reigning world 10,000m champion.

The Sydney Marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label race, and it is one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. The race will start and finish in the heart of Sydney, and it will take runners past some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

Quotes

"I am very excited to be running in the Sydney Marathon," said Azimeraw. "It is a great race, and I am looking forward to competing against some of the best runners in the world."

"The Sydney Marathon is a beautiful race, and I am very excited to be a part of it," said Yehualaw. "I am hoping to run a good time and to win the race."

"I am looking forward to running in the Sydney Marathon," said Legese. "It is a fast course, and I am hoping to run a personal best."

"The Sydney Marathon is a great race, and I am very excited to be a part of it," said Geremew. "I am hoping to run a good time and to win the race."