Hassan starts 'too hard' but sizzles in Sydney

Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and Ethiopian Hailemaryam Kiros both ran course-record times to win the titles at the Sydney Marathon on Aug 31, as the race entered a new era as part of the World Marathon Majors series.

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SYDNEY - Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and Ethiopian Hailemaryam Kiros both ran course-record times to win the titles at the Sydney Marathon on Aug 31, as the race entered a new era as part of the World Marathon Majors series.

Dutchwoman Hassan showed her class to cross the line at the city's Opera House in 2hr 18min 22sec, well clear of former world record holder Brigid Kosgei (2:18:56) of Kenya with 2024 champion Workenesh Edesa (2:22:15) of Ethiopia third.

Hassan, who will skip September's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after opting to prioritise Sydney, admitted she almost misjudged her race.

"I pushed too hard and I learnt a lesson," said the Ethiopian-born 32-year-old who has also won major races at London and Chicago in 2023. "I was so done the last 10k.

"It's amazing, I'm really grateful. I'm so happy to win with a course record.