Ethiopians Tadese Takele and Sutume Kebede won the men’s and women’s divisions of the Tokyo Marathon, respectively. Takele set a personal best time of 2:03:23, while Kebede won her second consecutive title in 2:16:31. Notable performances from other runners included Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, who placed ninth, and Paula Radcliffe, who returned to marathon racing after ten years.
Ethiopian runners Tadese Takele and Sutume Kebede achieved remarkable victories at the Tokyo Marathon, held on a splendid spring day. Takele secured first place in the men’s division with a personal-best time of 2:03:23. He was followed closely by compatriot Deresa Geleta, who finished in 2:03:51, while Kenyan Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich claimed third with a time of 2:04:00.
In the women’s category, Kebede led the race from the outset, claiming victory for the second consecutive year with a time of 2:16:31. Kenyan runner Winfridah Moraa Moseti finished just behind in 2:16:56, and Ethiopian competitor Hawi Feysa crossed the line in 2:17:00. Last year, Kebede set a Japanese all-comers record of 2:15:55 in this event.
The highest-placed Japanese athlete in the men’s race was Tubasa Ichiyama, who finished 10th with a time of 2:06:00. In the women’s race, the top Japanese finisher was Yuka Ando, also placing 10th, completing the marathon in 2:23:37. Notably, there were no Canadian participants in the elite categories of either race.
In a notable shift in his running career, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei announced that he is “totally done” with track racing. Having achieved remarkable success with two Olympic gold medals and four world championship medals in the 10,000 meters, Cheptegei is now focusing on marathons after debuting earlier this year in Valencia while finishing 37th with a time of 2:08:59.
Cheptegei aimed to maintain pace with Kenyan Benson Kipruto while also seeking a personal best time. He successfully finished ninth in the Tokyo Marathon, crossing the line in 2:05:56, just behind Kipruto. Former world record holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain also made a significant return to marathoning, finishing her first competitive marathon in ten years with a time of 2:57:26.
The Tokyo Marathon showcased outstanding performances from Ethiopian runners Tadese Takele and Sutume Kebede, who dominated the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively. Takele achieved a personal best, while Kebede continued her impressive streak from the previous year. Joshua Cheptegei made his mark in the marathon scene, and Paula Radcliffe celebrated her return to competitive racing, setting the stage for future events.
Original Source: www.cbc.ca
