The Japan Times - Hassan and Kiros smash race records to win Sydney Marathon

Run for the first time as one of the elite World Marathon Majors, Olympic champion Hassan was utterly dominant, surging home in 2hrs 18min 22sec ahead of Brigid Kosgei.

Ethiopia's Workenesh Edesa Gurmesa won the race last year in a record time, but Dutch star Hassan obliterated it by more than three minutes.

Kiros also powered home in a new record time, crossing the finish line at the Sydney Opera House in 2:06.06, around 10 seconds clear of fellow Ethiopian Addisu Gobena.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, arguably the greatest men's marathon runner of all time, failed in his bid to clinch a 12th marathon major, finishing ninth.

The 40-year-old was with the large lead group at halfway as they set a sizzling pace, but was dropped as the runners approached the 32km mark.

Kiros and Gobena led a seven-man breakaway before the pair opened up a gap between the chasing pack and couldn't be caught.

Kiros made his move within one kilometre of the finish line to shave more than a minute off the previous record set last year by Kenya's Brimin Misoi.

Hassan was equally impressive.

The women's race narrowed down to just five leaders early on before Hassan opened a commanding 40-second gap as she came through 35km before powering home.

Switzerland's Marcel Hug won the men's wheelchair race and American Susannah Scaroni the women's.

Around 35,000 runners, a record, competed over the picturesque 42.19 kilometre course through the city from North Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge to the finish line on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.

The race was elevated this year as the seventh World Marathon Majors, putting it on a par with London, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York in the elite global series.

Y.Mori--JT