ETHIOPIA’S Hailemaryam Kiros and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands have surged to record-breaking victories in the men’s and women’s races at the debut of the Sydney Marathon as a world major on Sunday.

Kiros won a thrilling men’s race in two hours six minutes and six seconds to run the fastest marathon ever in Australia, more than a minute quicker than the previous record on the hilly harbourside course which attracted 35,000 competitors from around the world.

The 28-year-old Ethiopian finished 10 seconds clear of compatriot Addisu Gobena with Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana third.

Kiros was part of a lead pack of seven runners and then surged off the front with Gobena to make it a duel for the remaining five kilometres. Kiros then handled better the downhill gradient to the finish line at the Sydney Opera House to claim an impressive victory on a brisk winter’s morning.

Dutch multidistance star Hassan was also in record-breaking form as she dominated the women’s race to win in 2:18:22, almost three minutes quicker than Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa record time set last year.

Kenyan runner Brigid Kosgei was 34 seconds behind with Edesa third in 2:22:05.

“The last five kilometres, I’m dead,” Hassan said after winning her third major. “I felt so good in the first 5Ks and I think I pushed too hard. I pushed really hard the last 10Ks. I was like, ‘That’s not really smart. I’m going to pay the price’, but I feel I got away with it. I’m so grateful.”

“It’s the first major marathon in Australia, in Sydney, and I’m the first one to win, so it’s big history for me.”