SYDNEY (AP) — Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena surged to a record-breaking victory in the men’s race at the Sydney Marathon on Sunday.
In perfect conditions, Gobena won the hotly contested men’s race in two hours four minutes and 42 seconds more than a minute and a half quicker than the previous record on the hilly harborside course which attracted 40,000 competitors from around the world.
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Race winner Addisu Gobena, centre, of Ethiopia stands with compatriot and second placed Chimdessa Debele, left, and third placed Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho following the Sydney Marathon, in Sydney, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya reacts after crossing the finish line at the Opera House to win the women's Sydney Marathon, in Sydney, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya reacts after crossing the finish line at the Opera House to win the women's Sydney Marathon, in Sydney, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Addisu Gobena of Ethiopia reacts as he crosses the finish line at the Opera House to win the Sydney Marathon, in Sydney, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
The 21-year-old Ethiopian, who was a javelin thrower until 2023, broke away with compatriot Chimdessa Debele Gudeta from the lead pack of six runners inside the final two kilometers and then surged ahead on the downhill finish to the Sydney Opera House to win by four seconds.
Gobena, who finished second behind Hailemaryam Kiros last year, celebrated by punching the air after crossing the finish line.
“I am very happy. Last year I came second, I learnt from my mistake, and I went back home and I worked on my mistake to perform and break the record today,” said Gobena through an interpreter.
Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana was third in 2:04:57.
The top seven finishers, including Kiros, were all inside Kiros' record time of 2:06:06 set in last year's race.
It was the Sydney Marathon’s second year as a major, a list of elite events that includes New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and Chicago.
Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya broke the women's field early and raced away to win by more than three minutes as she claimed her fourth marathon major.
Jepchirchir crossed the line in a time of 2:18:31, nine seconds behind Dutch multi-distance star Sidan Hassan's mark set in last year's event.
The Kenyan has now added the Sydney title to her wins in Boston, New York and London.
Compatriot Irene Cheptai was second in 2:22:11, with Shure Demise Ware of Ethiopia another 22 seconds behind in third.
The event was hit by an embarrassing medal mix-up, with a design error resulting in Munich’s Allianz Arena being etched onto medals instead of Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
Organizers acknowledged the mistake, which incorrectly depicted a landmark in Germany on medals intended to feature a Sydney landmark.
Daniel Romanchuk of the United States smashed the course record in taking his first Sydney Marathon men's title, as the wheelchair events took place in tandem with the runners
The 28-year-old, who won bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020, was never threatened as he bested the field early in the race and crossed the line in 1:26:50, more than 30 seconds better than the previous mark.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect throughout … I decided to put in a test surge and see what response I got, and I just decided I made a little bit of space, I’ll see if I can hold it, and I was able to hold it,” Romanchuk said.
Britain's David Weir was second at 1:31:33, with Luo Zingchuan of China two seconds further back in third.
Switzerland’s Manuela Schar won the women’s event also in a record time of 1:42:04.
Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Britain was second over five minutes behind Schar, with Tatyana McFadden of the United States in third.
“I haven’t had the best start to the season. I’m getting older, and it’s getting harder, and this is really surprising, and I’m really emotional,” Schar said about her margin of victory.
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Race winner Addisu Gobena, centre, of Ethiopia stands with compatriot and second placed Chimdessa Debele, left, and third placed Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho following the Sydney Marathon, in Sydney, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya reacts after crossing the finish line at the Opera House to win the women's Sydney Marathon, in Sydney, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya reacts after crossing the finish line at the Opera House to win the women's Sydney Marathon, in Sydney, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Addisu Gobena of Ethiopia reacts as he crosses the finish line at the Opera House to win the Sydney Marathon, in Sydney, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Known for two violent wrecks at Daytona International Speedway, Ryan Preece experienced a much different ride at NASCAR's hometown track Saturday night: a trip to victory lane.
Preece won the Cup Series regular-season finale at Daytona in overtime to secure the final playoff spot for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.
Preece, who ferociously flipped cars at Daytona in 2023 and again in 2025, moved to the front during a green-white-checkered finish when leader Zane Smith got bumped, started spinning and slammed into other cars on the last lap. Preece took the checkered flag under caution and edged Shane van Gisbergen for the 16th and final berth in the postseason finale.
“This is redemption,” said Preece, whose victory landed two RFK cars into the 16-driver Chase for the championship. Chris Buescher is the other.
“I’m just speechless right now,” Preece said. “Those guys, that 60 (car), we’re fighters. When you put our back against the wall, we swing hard. ... Last year, there were a lot of keyboard warriors saying I was nothing. Well, we just kicked their butts tonight.”
Preece expressed confidence all week, but he found himself needing a victory late to pass Shane van Gisbergen for the last playoff spot. Van Gisbergen finished 27th after pitting during the final caution and taking four tires.
“Shame we’re not in it,” said van Gisbergen, who won twice during the regular season but missed the playoffs under NASCAR's new format that puts more emphasis on season-long results that victories.
Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric locked up the other two available spots. Wallace, Cindric, van Gisbergen, Preece and Brad Keselowski started the night vying for the final three spots in the 10-race Chase.
Wallace, who was nearly a lock to make the 16-driver field when the green flag dropped, claimed his spot with a seventh-place finish in the opening stage. Cindric avoided trouble all night, finished sixth and advanced without much fanfare.
Daniel Suarez finished second in the race, followed by Michael McDowell, Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Van Gisbergen won Stage 1 and created more of a cushion on Preece, who was caught up in a three-car crash as he neared the finish line. Preece raced his way back to the front in Stage 2 and picked up much-needed points with a second-place finish behind Ryan Blaney.
But it came down to the final lap. Preece needed to win to get in — and he pulled it off in dramatic fashion.
“I’m a racer. I know what it takes to build speed,” Preece said. “So every man and woman at RFK, thank you for giving me a rocket ship so I could go to the moon tonight.”
Tom Cruise is getting back behind the wheel for a follow-up to “Days of Thunder.” The 64-year-old Cruise announced Saturday at Daytona he will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle.
He said he wants to show audiences “the speed, the excitement and all that danger and stuff.”
Anne Hathaway will co-star as a team owner and engineer in the film scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures on June 2, 2028.
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will drive a familiar-looking No. 48 in his final Cup Series start. Johnson unveiled his paint scheme for his Toyota in the 2027 Daytona 500 by driving a ceremonial lap around the track before Saturday’s race. The gray-and-blue scheme melds the three main sponsors during Johnson’s record-setting racing career: Lowe’s, Ally and Carvana.
Johnson’s final start will come in the 69th running of the Daytona 500, scheduled for Feb. 21, 2027. Hendrick Motorsports loaned Johnson the No. 48 for his last ride.
“Seeing this car for the first time brings back a lifetime of memories,” Johnson said.
Riley Herbst was scratched from the race because of “lingering effects” from a crash last weekend. Harrison Burton replaced Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota and finished 12th.
Herbst was involved in a crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last Sunday, with his car backing into the outside barrier before being struck again.
The 10-race Chase for the championship begins at Darlington Raceway next Sunday.
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Ryan Preece, center, celebrates with his crew after winning the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Chase Elliott (9) leads Ryan Preece (60) through the front stretch at the half way point of the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Actor Tom Crusie exits the building after attending a drivers meeting before a NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Shane Van Gisbergen (97) comes in for a pit stop during the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Kyle Larson (5) and Chase Briscoe (19) lead a group through the front stretch during early laps in the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
