Athletics

Sydney Marathon, tomorrow 8.45am.

Part of the Sydney Running Festival which includes a half marathon, a 10k and a fun run, the Sydney Marathon was instigated after the 2000 Olympics in the same city. The inaugural race was won by Kiwi Damon Harris but since then has largely been dominated by Kenyans and Japanese. Ten have been won by Kenyans including four in a row from 2005 by Julius Maritim who ran his best time of 2h 14m 38s in 2007. The race record is held by Kenya’s Gebo Gameda at 2h 11m18s ( in 2014). The last two men’s races have been won by Japanese with Tomohiro Tanigawa winning a year ago in 2h 12m 13s. The women’s race record set in 2014 by Ethiopian Biruktayit Degefa who also won a year earlier. Kiwi Ruth Kingston won in 2005. For their $ 160 entry fee, runners get the chance to run from Bradfield Park at Milson Point on to the Sydney Harbour Bridge — the highest point in the race at 60m above sea level — and around the city before finishing at the Opera House. Now accorded IAAF Gold Label Road Race status.