Brigid Kosgei set a Japanese all-comers' record of 2:14:29 while Tadese Takele retained his title at the Tokyo Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on Sunday.
Kenya’s Kosgei ran the seventh-fastest time in history and the second-quickest performance of her career to regain a title she claimed in 2021, improving on the course record and Japanese all-comers' record of 2:15:55 that was set by two-time winner Sutume Asefa Kebede in 2024.
After running with Kosgei for the first 30 kilometres, Kebede finished fourth on this occasion. Bertukan Welde secured second place in 2:16:36 and Hawi Feysa outsprinted Kebede for a podium place, finishing third as both athletes clocked 2:17:39.
Ethiopia’s Takele judged his finish to perfection to overpower Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba and Alexander Mutiso Munyao in the closing stages. Takele clocked 2:03:37 to become only the second back-to-back winner of the men’s race and he was chased over the finish line by Kipchumba, who recorded the same finish time, and Munyao, who was just one second back.
Kosgei was to the fore as the leading women reached 10km in 32:14, on course record pace.
Six athletes: Kosgei, Kebede, Welde, Feysa, Aberu Ayana and Azmera Gebru, remained together, running alongside male athletes, as they passed halfway in 1:07:37.
Kebede and Kosgei broke away and had dipped under 2:15 pace by 30km, reached in 1:35:53 – 13 seconds ahead of Welde.
Kosgei then made what turned out to be a winning move, creating a 22-second advantage by 35km – 1:51:40 to 1:52:02. While Kosgei was able to maintain that pace and eventually won by more than two minutes, Kebede was passed by her Ethiopian compatriot Welde and the 21-year-old ran a big PB of 2:16:36 in her fourth marathon.
Feysa pushed all the way to the finish line to pip her compatriot Kebede and they both posted finish times of 2:17:39. Megertu Alemu was fifth in 2:18:50, while Ai Hosoda was the leading Japanese finisher in 2:23:39 for 10th place.
Japan’s Ryuichi Hashimoto led for the first half of the men’s race but a large chase pack caught him by 26.5km.
A group of 10 hit 30km in 1:28:01 and nine remained together at 35km, reached in 1:42:56, but the pack started to split one kilometre later.
A group of five broke away, led by Munyao and his Kenyan compatriot Daniel Mateiko, with Italy’s world bronze medallist Iliass Aouani at the back of the pack.
Mateiko, Munyao, Toroitich and Takele remained in contention as 40km was reached in 1:57:27, but Takele was waiting for his moment to strike. First they dropped Mateiko and then Takele kicked, holding off Toroitich as they reached the finish line in the same time – 2:03:37.
Munyao was third in 2:03:38 and Mateiko was fourth in 2:03:44. Muktar Edris ran a PB of 2:04:07 to finish fifth and Aouani improved the Italian record to 2:04:26 to place sixth.
China’s Feng Peiyou also set a national record, clocking 2:05:58 to place 11th, one spot ahead of Japan’s Suguru Osako (2:05:59).
Leading results
Women
1 Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:29
2 Bertukan Welde (ETH) 2:16:36
3 Hawi Feysa (ETH) 2:17:39
4 Sutume Asefa Kebede (ETH) 2:17:39
5 Megertu Alemu (ETH) 2:18:50
6 Viola Cheptoo (KEN) 2:19:05
7 Mestawut Fikir (ETH) 2:20:00
8 Aberu Ayana (ETH) 2:20:30
9 Pascalia Jepkogei (KEN) 2:21:39
10 Ai Hosoda (JPN) 2:23:39
Men
1 Tadese Takele (ETH) 2:03:37
2 Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba (KEN) 2:03:37
3 Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) 2:03:38
4 Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 2:03:44
5 Muktar Edris (ETH) 2:04:07
6 Iliass Aouani (ITA) 2:04:26
7 Selemon Barega (ETH) 2:05:00
8 Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:05:02
9 Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (KEN) 2:05:21
10 Shifera Tamru (ETH) 2:05:56
