Brigid Kosgei soared to a course record at the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday as Tadese Takele needed a late sprint to retain his title in the men’s race.
Kosgei was locked in a fierce battle in the lead group that included Hawi Feysa, Sutume Asefa Kebede, Ayana Aberu, Bertukan Welde and Azmera Gebru though the halfway point at 1:07:37. But by the 25km mark, the group of six was down to four, with Kosgei eventually making a decisive move at the 35k point at 1:51:40 as she opened a 22 second gap on Kebede.
Welde finsihed second in 2:16:36 while Feysa bolted past Kebede and took third in 2:17:39.
For Kosgei, even as the top podium spot was all but decided, she held her pace and surged through the finish at 2:14:29, which gave her the new course record in Tokyo as she also set an Asian all-comers’ record — taking down Kebede’s 2024 mark.
With her victory on Sunday, Kosgei adds to a legendary list of major wins that also includes Chicago in 2018 and 2019 and London in 2019 and 2020 to go along with her 2021 title in Tokyo. Kosgei also ran the seventh quickest time ever, which is also her second-fastest time.
In the men’s race, the final moments were decided with a final dash as a Takele defended his crown in Tokyo in the closing moments.
At the 40km mark at 1:57:27, Takele was locked in a group of four that also included Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba, Alexander Mutiso Munyao and Daniel Mateiko. That group started with ten runners at the 30km point but late in the race it was unclear who would break away for a shot at the win.
Moments later, Mateiko began to fade and could not keep up with the remaining three as the surge to the line began. But Takele kicked late and barely edged past Kipchumba for the win in 2:03:37.
Kipchumba, who also clocked a 2:03:37, finished second, while took third in 2:03:38.
Meanwhile, in the wheelchair races, Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner pulled off a sweep for Switzerland with Hug taking the men’s event in 1:21:09, while Debrunner got the win in over the women’s field in 1:37:15.
Women’s top finishers
1. Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) – 2:14:29
2. Bertukan Welde (Ethiopia) – 2:16:36
3. Hawi Feysa (Ethiopia) – 2:17:39
4. Sutume Asefa Kebede (Ethiopia) – 2:17:39
5. Megertu Alemu (Ethiopia) – 2:18:50
6. Violah Cheptoo (Kenya) – 2:19:05
7. Mestawut Fikir (Ethiopia) – 2:20:00
8. Aberu Ayana (Ethiopia) – 2:20:30
9. Pascalia Jepkogei (Kenya) – 2:21:39
10. Ai Hosoda (Japan) – 2:23:39
Men’s top finishers
1. Tadese Takele (Ethiopia) – 2:03:37
2. Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba (Kenya) – 2:03:37
3. Alexander Mutiso Munyao (Kenya) – 2:03:38
4. Daniel Mateiko (Kenya) – 2:03:44
5. Muktar Edris (Ethiopia) – 2:04:07
6. Iliass Aouani (Italy) – 2:04:26
7. Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) – 2:05:00
8. Seifu Tura (Ethiopia) – 2:05:02
9. Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (Kenya) – 2:05:21
10. Shifera Tamru (Ethiopia) – 2:05:56
Women’s wheelchair race
1. Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland) – 1:37:15
2. Eden Rainbow Cooper (Great Britain) – 1:41:13
3. Zhaoqian Zhou (China) – 1:41:13
4. Tatyana McFadden (USA) – 1:41:15
5. Vanessa de Souza (Brazil) – 1:41:20
6. Tsuchida Wakako (Japan) – 1:41:20
7. Nakamine Tsubasa (Japan) – 1:41:20
8. Manuela Schär (Switzerland) – 1:42:17
9. Patricia Eachus (Switzerland) – 1:47:34
10 . Madison de Rozario (Australia) – 1:52:08
Men’s wheelchair race
1. Marcel Hug (Switzerland) – 1:21:09
2. Xingchuan Luo (China) – 1:28:08
3. Watanabe Sho (Japan) – 1:33:10
4. Samuel Rizzo (Australia) – 1:33:12
5. Geert Schipper (Netherlands) – 1:33:12
6. Nishida Hiroki (Japan) – 1:33:19
7. Kishizawa Hiroki (Japan) – 1:36:15
8. Hokinoue Kota (Japan) – 1:36:16
9. Higuchi Masayuki (Japan) – 1:36:16
10. Kawamuro Ryuichi (Japan) – 1:37:08
