Source : the age
It’s a dangerous day to be a banana.
It’s not even 8am, but the street bins are already overflowing here in North Sydney with peels, empty coffee cups, and half-drained Gatorade bottles.
Real Mario Kart conditions out here – watch your step!
We have our first official marathon winner this morning.
Daniel Romanchuk from the United States is the first to cross the line in a time of 1:26:50 to claim victory in the men’s wheelchair.
“Absolutely beautiful day, really just thankful to be here, and thankful I got the opportunity to race here,” he said.
It was an emotional win for Romanchuk, who choked up while talking after the race.
“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.”
We have done some sleuthing.
When I say sleuthing, I mean searches on the Sydney Marathon app.
A couple of famous faces you can look out for – three-time grand slam singles champion Ash Barty, who has just reached the 6km mark and is making her way through the city.
I have a suspicion she’s racing alongside Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Emma McKeon, who has also just hit the 6km mark.
An update on our Herald staff: Sarah Berry is at the 5km mark while Abby Seaman is preparing to start.
Our elite runners have hit the one-hour mark.
They’re not quite halfway through the race, but they’re close.
The men’s leading pack has just passed the 20km mark. They are making their way along Anzac Parade in Kensington now.
For spectators like Nicolas Soares, simply watching runners is enough to get the heart pumping.
With his son on his shoulders, the Sydneysider said he was itching to get amongst the action.
“Everything is beautiful. It’s a perfect day for running. Not too hot, not too cold, it’s beautiful.”
Soares hopes to run the race next year. “My legs are shaking just looking,” he said.
Spare a thought for anyone caught on the wrong side of the human tidal wave that is the Sydney Marathon today.
After 40 minutes of pacing, sad eyes, and negotiations with race marshals, this lost reporter has successfully crossed the track.
For 15 glorious seconds, I was officially a marathon runner. Time to update my Strava!
The men’s frontrunners have just passed the 10km mark and are currently 43 seconds ahead of last year’s pack.
Here are the rankings so far for the men:
- Alfred Kipchirchir Mukhche (Kenya)
- Benjamin Ratsim (Tanzania)
- Vincent Ngetich (Kenya)
Our women’s leader is one minute ahead of last year’s time. This is what the rankings look like:
- Priscah Cherono (Kenya)
- Isobel Batt-Doyle (Australia)
- Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya)
The dedication of Sydney Morning Herald reporters is second to none.
We are, in fact, so dedicated that we’ve recruited employees to take on the full 42km and provide live updates.
OK, I may be stretching the truth, but we do, in fact, have a few Herald employees taking part this morning.
Shout out to lifestyle writer Sarah Berry who says she’s “at the mustering areas, where spirits are high and portaloo queues are long”.
Meanwhile, producer and lifestyle writer Abby Seaman is making her way to the start line (we may see more from her later).
A special shoutout to Nine sports reporter Nicole Dunn, who, when I sent a good luck message to her this morning, said: “Pre-race is actually the worst feeling in the world, and you may quote me on that.”
Good luck all!
