Since 2006, the Abbott World Marathon Majors has been the ultimate challenge for runners: a points-based competition where racers aim to tick off all six of the world’s most high-profile marathons.
London Marathon, New York Marathon, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo are the six races that currently make up the series. Currently, the Sydney Marathon is in the running to become the seventh race in the series; if successful, it will be the first new race since the addition of Tokyo in 2013.
But the road to becoming an Abbott World Marathon Major isn’t easy. Following the 2023 event, organisers of the Sydney Marathon have proceeded to the second stage of the candidacy process, but will now have to meet the criteria for a second year in a row when the next marathon is staged in 2024. If all goes to plan, the race would join the series in 2025.
“Our assessment team found that the 2023 Sydney Marathon has made significant improvements in a number of areas where we required it to raise standards following its 2022 event,” said Abbott World Marathon Majors CEO, Dawna Stone.
“The team was impressed with the efforts made to meet the criteria set out in the assessment process, and we now look forward to returning in 2024 for the next stage of their candidacy.”
The Sanlam…
