The Abbott World Marathon Majors is on the brink of adding a seventh race to their ranks. The TCS Sydney Marathon is getting ever-closer to becoming one of the Majors and the first representative from Oceania, according to recent reports.
Over the last few years, the Sydney Marathon has been progressing through a three-year assessment period. At each stage of assessment, the race must meet a set of strict criteria set out by Abbott, the American pharmaceutical corporation that is both title sponsor of the World Marathon Majors series and its gatekeeper.
If successful, the Sydney Marathon will become the seventh Abbott World Marathon Majors and join an elite group of races – Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and New York City Marathon.
What Are The World Marathon Majors, And Why Are They Such A Big Deal?
The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) is a series of six of the most prestigious marathons in the world. These races are seen as benchmarks for excellence in marathon running, attracting elite runners and big fields of recreational runners. They are renowned for clocking the fastest times (Tokyo, London, Berlin and Chicago), having challenging courses (Boston and New York), and being the most professionally organized and executed marathons in the world.
Here’s an overview of the six marathons that are currently included in the series:
- Tokyo Marathon (Japan)
- Boston Marathon (USA)
- London Marathon (UK)
- Berlin Marathon (Germany)
- Chicago Marathon (USA)
- New York City Marathon (USA)
The Tokyo Marathon was the most recent race to earn the status of Abbott World Marathon Majors back in 2013.
Why Are The Majors Important?
There isn’t one concrete answer for why these marathons are so significant. Instead, it is a combination of factors that make these the most important and most impactful races every year.
- Elite Competition: The WMM races attract the world’s top marathon runners. Winning any of these marathons is a significant achievement in the running world. The series also has a points-based system for elite athletes, awarding a major cash prize to the best overall male and female marathoners over a two-year period.
- World Records: Due to the fast, flat courses in races like Berlin, many world marathon records have been set at WMM events. Berlin, in particular, is known for its record-breaking potential.
- Global Participation: These marathons draw tens of thousands of participants from all over the world, including both professional and amateur runners. Many runners aim to complete all six races as a “grand slam” challenge, earning a special “Six Star Medal,” which is dolled out by Abbott.
- Cultural Significance: Each marathon is deeply rooted in its city’s culture and history. For example, the Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the New York City Marathon is one of the largest each year, with over 50,000 runners and millions of spectators lining the streets.
- Charity and Community Impact: Many participants in the WMM races run for charity, raising millions of dollars for various causes. This makes these events stand out not only for their athletic feats but also as important fundraising platforms.
What You Need To Know About The Sydney Marathon
The Sydney Marathon was first held in April 2000 as a test event for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and has continued to be held every year since (except for the pandemic years). Its most recent edition just wrapped up, taking place Sept. 14, 2024, reaching a record-high participation number of over 24,000 participants in the marathon and 40,000 participants total across all three offered events (the marathon, a 10K, and a “mini marathon” 4.2K).
Sydney is known for its hilly terrain, and its marathon features an elevation gain of 317m (1,040 feet) and a loss of 400m (1,312 feet). If added to the Marathon Majors, it would be the most challenging in terms of elevation, similar to New York City, making it a scenic and enjoyable route rather than a fast, flat course.
The race follows an iconic route, taking runners over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing at the renowned Sydney Opera House, one of the world’s most impressive finish lines.
In previous years, the event included a half marathon and a 10km race, but the half marathon has been removed to allow more participants in the full marathon. The 10km race still remains.
Along with being the hilliest Major, Sydney would also have the earliest start time, beginning at 6am.
For those looking to participate in 2025, the marathon has historically operated on a first-come, first-served registration. This is expected to continue, but if Sydney becomes a Major, the entry process may shift to a lottery system in the future.
At this year’s edition, the race saw a number of top Kenyan and Ethiopian runners headline both the men’s and women’s elite fields. As a results, the race saw the course records in both races come falling down.
In the men’s field, Kenya’s Brimin Misoi ran 2:06:17, taking 46 seconds off the former course record set two years ago by compatriot Moses Kibet. In the women’s event, Workenesh Edesa of Ethiopia took down a five-year record by nearly three minutes after crossing the line at 2:21:40.
By comparison, the men’s world record was set last year in Chicago at 2:00:35, and the women’s mark in Berlin at 2:11:53, signalling that Sydney is easily a more challenging, hilly course that has yet to attract the most top-flight elite athletes.
Why The Sydney Marathon?
Race organizers for the Sydney Marathon have argued that “no city in the world has a better combination of natural beauty, love of sport, and iconic infrastructure” for hosting a marathon.
The race has seen rapid growth over the years. In 2001, it had 1,200 finishers, and by 2022, that number had only reached 5,300. However, in 2023, participation surged to nearly 17,000 runners, and all 24,000 spots for the 2024 event sold out. It now holds the title of the largest race in the southern hemisphere and is the only Platinum Label marathon south of the equator.
What Would The Marathon Major Calendar Look Like?
If the Sydney Marathon gets added as a Major, then the 2025 Marathon Major calendar will look like this:
- March 2: Tokyo Marathon
- April 21: Boston Marathon
- April 27: London Marathon
- Sept. 14: Sydney Marathon
- Sept. 21: Berlin Marathon
- Oct. 12: Chicago Marathon
- Nov. 2: New York City Marathon
Are There Other Races Being Considered?
Currently, only three races are being considered, with South Africa’s Cape Town Marathon and the Chengdu Marathon in China still undergoing their initial evaluations. No additional updates have been made regarding the inclusion of more Marathon Majors on the race calendar.
The Big Question: What Does All This Mean For Six-Star Finishers?
With the Sydney Marathon moving on to the next stage of candidacy, many runners have been asking what will happen to the Six Star Finisher program, and is their Six-Star Medal now worthless?
The Abbott World Marathon Majors has confirmed that regardless of future assessment outcomes, the Six Star Finisher program will remain unaffected. Rather, new awards programs will be added for athletes who finish more than the current six majors.
Abbott World Marathon Majors CEO Dawna Stone said, “We have been listening to our community and fully appreciate the huge appeal of the Six Star Medal. We are also aware of the tens of thousands of runners on their Six Star journey whose strong desire is for this goal to stay in place.”
