Though recently upgraded on World Athletics’ ranking system to a “platinum” marathon – making it the eighth best in the world – the Sydney event is relatively modest compared to the majors,which have about 50,000 finishers. Sydney usually has about 5000 finishers,although many thousands more compete in the half-marathon and 10km events run simultaneously.
Destination NSW is backing Sydney’s candidacy for major status and the reasons are straightforward,says Larden. With tens of thousands of tourists coming to race each year,studies show cities gets a massive financial boost. The Chicago Marathon generated almost $600 million for the city’s economy this year.
The marathon majors:Berlin,Boston,New York,Chicago,London and Tokyo.Credit:Getty
Sydney must meet certain criteria for two years in a row over the next three years before a vote of other race directors can upgrade it to a major. The tourism and grandeur components are well-covered,with the race route including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House as a finish line.
But Sydney will also have to increase its finishers to 15,000 and support the race in bigger numbers like the other major marathons,where there is a culture of people lining the course to cheer on runners,entertainment and a festival atmosphere.
“There are benchmark things,you either have it or you don’t. Is the air clean? Is it a marketable city? Do people want to visit? These are things we have;Sydney is a beautiful place and a global destination,” Larden said.
“More specific things,there are a few key things. We have to triple our number of finishers in the marathon,we have to engage the Sydney community and get them out on the course,like what runners experience in Boston or New York or London. We have to get people out and cheering people on their journey.”
The Sydney course hugs the harbour and has spectacular views.
The Sydney Marathon course – which this year saw the fastest time ever run in Australia by Kenya’s Moses Kibet (two hours,seven minutes,two seconds) – will also be altered slightly,replacing the narrow sections of course winding along the edge of wharves at Pyrmont,with more roadway. And it will become a standalone race,with a half-marathon and shorter runs done a day before.
Australian marathon legend Steve Moneghetti,who won the Berlin Marathon in 1990 and is an adviser to the Sydney Marathon,believes the event can be the equal of any in the world.
“I can tell you that in all the world’s top marathons,and I ran a fair few of them,that no one has anything close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House on the course. They are iconic,” he said.
Loading
“You name me any city in the world and if you can name a better start/finish than that,then you’ve got me. That’s the selling point.
“It is really exciting. And I was a bit surprised,I thought,‘The world marathon majors? Hey the six is the six and that’s that’. When I sort of considered it,I thought,‘Yeah,why should it be just those six?’ Marathon running is booming around the world and it’s nice to think they are open to adding to it and Sydney is in the running for it.”
Kipchoge is undisputedly the greatest marathon runner ever,and proved as much by breaking the world record in Berlin in September,running 2:01.09.
The 2016 and 2020 Olympic gold medallist became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in 2019,in an event that didn’t qualify for a record.
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge crosses the line to win the Berlin Marathon in September.Credit:AP
Kipchoge,38,has vowed to collect a six-star medal before he retires,but Sydney hopes to lure the Kenyan to Australia even before it becomes an extra point on the medal,with an appearance in 2024. Kipchoge running in Sydney would give the race a major boost of global credibility,and be a big help in meeting the targets for finisher and crowd numbers,too.
“He would definitely bring Sydneysiders out. He is like Usain Bolt on a track - when Bolt ran,the stands were full,” Larden said.
“We are talking to Kipchoge’s management and have been since we got nominated. He wants to finish the six next year,so our goal is to try and get him to Sydney in 2024,as that big drawcard.”
Moneghetti said having Kipchoge run across the Harbour Bridge in 2024 would be a massive coup:“To say you ran in a race when Kipchoge ran,that’s a selling point. That’d be huge.”
Sports news,results and expert commentary.Sign up for our Sport newsletter.