Ethiopians dominate Tokyo Marathon with double victory

Tokyo

Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele won his first major marathon, while Sutume Kebede defended her title at the Tokyo Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label event.

Takele clocked a world-leading 2:03:23, improving his personal best by one second. He finished 28 seconds ahead of fellow Ethiopian Deresa Geleta (2:03:51), with Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi third (2:04:00). Kebede won the women’s race in 2:16:31, becoming the first back-to-back winner in Tokyo Marathon history. Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti (2:16:56) and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa (2:17:00) completed the podium.

The race began in near-perfect conditions but turned warmer as the day progressed. The men’s leading group, including Takele, Geleta, and Kipkemoi, broke away by the 30km mark. Takele surged ahead at 38km, dropping his rivals to secure the win. Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, running his second marathon, finished ninth in 2:05:59, a three-minute improvement on his debut.

Kebede started aggressively, reaching halfway in 1:06:20. Though she slowed in the second half, she remained unchallenged, crossing the finish line in 2:16:31. Moseti paced herself well, closing the gap to finish 25 seconds behind. Feysa secured third place just four seconds later.

Further down the field, former world record-holder Paula Radcliffe completed her first competitive marathon in a decade, finishing in 2:57:26.