Peres Jepchirchir has admitted that her victory at the TCS Sydney Marathon in Australia on Sunday morning is one of the most special of her career after struggling to recover from an injury that has kept her out of competition for the better part of the year.
The reigning world marathon champion won her first marathon of the season on Sunday, conquering Sydney Marathon’s tough course.
Jepchirchir, who trains in Kapsabet, Nandi County, crossed the line in two hours,18 minutes and 31 seconds ahead of her compatriot Irene Cheptai, who clocked 2:22:11. Ethiopia’s Shure Demise came third in 2:22:33. Prisca Cherono of Kenya, who dominated the first half of the race, finished sixth in 2:23:49.
“This victory means a lot to me. Fighting to get back from injury and missing the London Marathon was difficult, but I stayed patient and trusted the process. Winning here, especially in such a beautiful city and in front of such an amazing crowd, makes it very special. It is a great reward for all the hard work I have put in during my recovery and preparation,” Jepchirchir told Nation Sport in an exclusive interview on Sunday.
Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir celebrates after winning the Women's Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia on August 30, 2026.
Photo credit: Hollie Adams | Reuters
The 32-year-old withdrew from the 2026 London Marathon in April with an ankle injury. She has not finished a marathon race since winning the 2025 world title in Tokyo. Jepchirchir, the Olympic champion from Tokyo 2020, added Sydney to her wins in New York (2021), Boston (2022) and London (2024). On Sunday, she was cheered on by a number of Kenyan fans who had been waiting in front of Sydney’s Opera House, a scene that has become common wherever Kenyan marathoners compete in major marathons.
On paper, Sydney is now considered the toughest of the seven Majors because of its rolling hills and late-race climbs, and Jepchirchir said she relied on a different set of tactics to win.
“Sydney is definitely a challenging course. The hills make it demanding, and you have to be very smart with your energy. “Every Major has its own character; New York has the bridges and the crowds, Boston has the famous hills, London is very fast, and Sydney has its beautiful but challenging course. I had to pay attention to the hills and stay patient. Experience from the other Majors helped me a lot today,” she added.
Kenya's Irene Cheptai crosses the finish line in second place during the Women's Sydney Marathon
Photo credit: Hollie Adams | Reuters
The Kenyan ran a patient race, staying in a lead pack that included compatriot Irine Cheptai and Tanzania's Magdalena Shauri before making her decisive move after 30km on the approach to the Harbour Bridge.
“The plan was to stay controlled in the beginning, especially because of the hills, and not get carried away by the pace. I wanted to save energy for the second half and then see how my body was feeling. As the race developed, I felt strong and confident, and I decided it was the right moment to make my move, and from there, I focused on myself, stayed relaxed and committed to the plan all the way to the finish,” said Jepchirchir.
Running in its second year as a Major, Sydney delivered a spectacular stage with Jepchirchir saying that crossing the Harbour Bridge and seeing the Opera House gave her extra motivation.
"It was incredible. The atmosphere was something I will never forget, and running across the Harbour Bridge with so many people cheering was very special, and seeing the Opera House as I approached the finish gave me so much motivation. The crowd really carried me today, and Sydney has already shown that it belongs among the great marathon cities, and I feel very honoured to have won here,” she added.
New York City Marathon and Valencia Marathon are yet to be held, but Jepchirchir is cautiously optimistic.
"For now, I want to enjoy this victory and take some time to recover. The season has been challenging, especially after the injury, so I want to listen to my body and make the right decisions with my team," she said.
Kenya’s Vincent Ngetich finished seventh in the men’s race in 2:05:28. Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena won in 2:04:42, followed by his compatriot Chimdessa Debele in 2:04:46.
