The Sydney Marathon was confirmed as the seventh member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in New York on Monday, culminating a three-year program to improve the event.
It joins Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York as marathon majors, drawing both the world’s fastest athletes and tens of thousands of destination runners.
“This is an extraordinary achievement for Sydney and a transformative moment for Australian athletics,” Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming said on Monday.
“The Abbott World Marathon Majors represents the very best in marathon running, and to have Sydney join this elite group is a testament to the dedication, passion and expertise of everyone involved.
“But it is an achievement that will inspire countless Australians to take up running.”
The Sydney Marathon is a legacy of the 2000 Olympics and was first held as a test event five months out from the Games.
