Brigid Kosgei vs Sifan Hassan in epic marathon clash in Sydney

Former marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei will face Olympic champion Sifan Hassan in the Sydney Marathon on August 31. Race organizers had initially billed Sifan Hassan as the frontrunner in the women’s race, but Brigid Kosgei’s inclusion has raised the stakes considerably.

Race director Wayne Larden said the calibre of this year’s women’s entry marked a turning point for marathon running in Australia.

“This is without a doubt the strongest women’s marathon field Australia has ever seen. With the confirmation of some of the fastest and most highly-ranked athletes in the world, Sydney is now firmly on the map as a world-class marathon destination”, said Wayne Larden.

Brigid Kosgei, a silver medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, will be competing for only the second time this year, having made her season debut in Hamburg on April 27. She finished second in 2:18:26 hours behind Workenesh Edesa (Ethiopia), who clocked 2:17:55 hours. Another Ethiopian, Kumeshi Sichala, finished third in 2:19:53 hours.

This won’t be the first time Brigid Kosgei and Sifan Hassan to meet. Their last meeting was at the 2023 London Marathon, where Sifan Hassan stunned the world with a victory on her marathon debut, clocking 2:18:33 hours. Megertu Alemu (2:18:37 hours) and Peres Jepchirchir (2:18:38 hours) completed the podium. Brigid Kosgei failed to finish that race.

The Kenyan long-distance running star will be looking to turn the tables in Sydney. Brigid Kosgei has a stellar marathon record, including an Olympic silver medal at Tokyo 2020, where she clocked 2:27:36 hours behind compatriot Peres Jepchirchir (2:27:20 hours).

She has won back-to-back Chicago Marathon titles in 2018 (2:18:35 hours) and 2019, when she set the then-world record of 2:14:04 hours ahead of Ethiopians Ababel Yeshaneh (2:20:51 hours) and Gelete Burka (2:20:55 hours). She finished second in the 2017 Chicago race, clocking 2:20:22 hours behind Tirunesh Dibaba (2:18:30 hours).

Brigid Kosgei has also won back-to-back London Marathons, in 2019 (2:18:20 hours) and 2020 (2:18:58 hours). She finished second in the 2018 edition, clocking 2:20:13 hours behind compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot (2:18:31 hours).

In 2021, Brigid Kosgei won the Tokyo Marathon title, clocking 2:16:02 hours ahead of Ethiopians Ashete Bekere (2:17:58 hours) and Gotytom Gebreslase (2:18:18 hours).

Sifan Hassan is aiming for her first marathon win of the year. The Dutch athletics sensation opened her 2025 season with a third-place finish in London, clocking 2:19:00 hours behind Ethiopian Tigst Assefa (2:15:50 hours) and Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei (2:18:44 hours).

Her achievements in the 42km distance include victories at Chicago 2023 (2:13:44 hours), London 2023 and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (2:22:55 hours).

Joining the elite women’s group is a formidable Ethiopian contingent led by Workenesh Edesa, who is aiming for a third victory in 2025 after victories in Osaka (2:21:00 hours) and Hamburg. She will be joined by 2019 Berlin Marathon champion Ashete Bekere, Meseret Belete and Tiruye Mesfin.