TCS SYDNEY MINI MARATHON PRESENTED BY ASICS DRAWS RECORD 12,500 PARTICIPANTS TO SHOWCASE SYDNEY AT ITS ABSOLUTE BEST

Dual race records fall as Ruby Madden and Luke Shaw headline TCS Sydney Mini Marathon

(Sydney, 29 August 2026) The TCS Sydney Mini Marathon Presented by ASICS, delivered a flying start to the race weekend, with a record-breaking 12,500 participants taking to the streets of Sydney this morning.

Participants from across Australia and around the world descended on the Sydney CBD for the sold-out 5km event, transforming the city into a sea of colour as runners made their way from Macquarie Street to the iconic finish line at the Sydney Opera House.

The atmosphere was matched by a remarkable turnout of spectators, with thousands lining the course through Hyde Park, the Royal Botanic Garden and Circular Quay, creating an unforgettable experience and setting the tone for tomorrow's TCS Sydney Marathon, the largest ever marathon held on Australian soil. 

In one of the standout stories of the morning, brothers Luke and Matthew Shaw both featured on the men's podium, with Luke producing a stunning race-record run of 14:34 to take the title. Harrison McCloskey (14:46) finished second, while Matthew crossed the line in 15:02 to secure third, making it a memorable day for the Shaw family delivering the quickest finish in the event’s history. 

The women's field delivered an equally impressive contest with Ruby Madden producing a record-breaking performance to claim victory in 16:40. Ella Lawton crossed the line second in 17:32, while Sophie Hutton rounded out the podium in 18:04, with all three producing impressive performances on the iconic route to the Sydney Opera House.

Wayne Larden, TCS Sydney Marathon Race Director said the event's continued growth shows the increasing appetite for running experiences in Sydney, "The TCS Sydney Mini Marathon has become an important part of marathon weekend. It gives people of all ages and abilities the chance to be part of something special, whether they're experiencing their first event, here with friends and family or travelling from interstate and overseas.

This morning, what stood out just as much as the participation was the support from spectators. It provides a glimpse to the scale of what we can expect tomorrow when tens of thousands more runners take to the streets for this year’s TCS Sydney Marathon."

Adding to the day's celebrations was an extraordinary fundraising milestone from Sophie Smith OAM, Founder of Running for Premature Babies. As the event's inaugural headline charity partner, the charity has now raised more money than any other charity in the event's history, surpassing $1 million thanks to the efforts of more than 800 fundraisers.

This milestone highlights the powerful impact the TCS Sydney Marathon community continues to have beyond race day, and the strength of the charity's debut year as headline partner.

The TCS Sydney Marathon has raised millions of dollars for charitable causes since its inception, with thousands of participants each year using their marathon journey to support organisations making a meaningful difference in communities across Australia and around the world.

With the TCS Sydney Mini Marathon complete, attention now turns to tomorrow's headline event, where a record-breaking marathon field of 40,000 participants will take to the start line for the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon.

As Sydney prepares to welcome runners from more than 140 countries, the city is once again poised to showcase why it has rapidly become one of the world's most popular marathon destinations.

The TCS Sydney Marathon is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event is owned by Athletics Australia and managed by Pont3. 

For more information on how to navigate race day, please download the TCS Sydney Marathon app HERE

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