Sebastian Sawe Claims Ksh6.4 Million Marathon Majors Windfall As Hellen Obiri, Sharon Lokedi and Tigst Assefa Share Women’s Prize

Kenyans swept the 2025 Marathon Majors Series prize with Sebastian Sawe clinching the men’s award of $50,000 (Ksh6.4 million) while Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi shared it with Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa.

Each year, the World Marathon Majors prize of $50,000 (Ksh6.4 million) is reserved for elite marathoners who perform exemplarily in seven major marathons; Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, Sydney and New York where they accumulate points, and whoever has more at the end of the season is awarded the title.

In an Olympics and World Championships year, like 2025, the events also count towards the prize with winners in the men’s and women’s categories awarded $50,000 (Ksh6.4 million) each at the end of the campaign.

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The points are 25 for first place, 16 for second, nine for third and four and one point for fourth and fifth place finishers respectively in each of the major marathons.

Following the end of the New York Marathon on Sunday, the final Marathon Major of the year, Sawe remained unchallenged at the top as he finished with 50 points to claim the men’s prize as none of his rivals could close in on him.

World champion Alphonce Simbu from Tanzania, and Chicago marathon winner Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda finished second with 41 points.

Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Obiri, who won the New York Marathon, stormed back to the top, to tie on 41 points, having accumulated 25 in the ‘Big Apple’ to add onto the 16 she had heading into the race.

Lokedi on the other hand had come into the race on 25 points and with her second-place finish in New York, she also took her tally to 41, which is the same number of points Assefa had as she led the leaderboard before the final race of the season.

With race directors unable to separate the trio each after delivered outstanding performances across the season, it was agreed that they would share the title. The decision means Obiri celebrates back-to-back series victories, having also claimed the crown last year, but the three will now share the prize money.

The cash prizes extend to those who finish second, third, fourth, and fifth places with the amount being; $25,000 (Ksh3.2 million), $12,500 (Ksh1.6 million), $7,500 (Ksh966,000) and $5,000 (Ksh644,000) respectively.