The Tokyo Marathon on March 2, 2025, featured an impressive display from Ethiopian athletes as Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede claimed the men’s and women’s titles respectively. Takele finished with a time of 2:03:23, while Kebede successfully defended her title at 2:16:29. Joshua Cheptegei also excelled with a personal best, despite facing challenging weather conditions during the race.
On March 2, 2025, Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede claimed victory for Ethiopia at the Tokyo Marathon, which marked the first World Marathon Major event of the year. Takele, a former Olympic steeplechaser, finished the race in a remarkable time of 2:03:23, while Kebede successfully defended her title with a time of 2:16:29. The Ethiopian duo was joined on the podium by Deresa Geleta, who finished second (2:03:51), and Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, who earned third place (2:04:00) for the consecutive year.
Kebede’s performance was equally impressive, being closely followed by Kenya’s Winfrida Moraa Moseti (2:16:56) and Ethiopian runner Hawi Feysa (2:17:00). Notably, Joshua Cheptegei, a two-time Olympic middle-distance champion, achieved a personal best of 2:05:56, placing ninth in his second marathon attempt. He cited the challenging temperature, which exceeded 20°C, as a factor that affected many runners.
Defending champion Benson Kipruto, a bronze medallist from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, struggled, finishing in sixth place (2:05:44). In a significant return, Paula Radcliffe, the former world record holder, completed her first marathon since retirement, finishing 111th in 2:57:26. At the age of 51, she plans to participate in the Boston Marathon to complete the Six Star Marathon program.
Takele’s decisive move came with 3 kilometers remaining, breaking free from a leading group that included Geleta and Ngetich. This victory marks Takele’s third marathon, having placed seventh in the previous year’s Berlin Marathon. The 22-year-old expressed satisfaction with his performance and expressed hope to achieve even greater heights in the future.
Joshua Cheptegei noted that while he did not achieve his target time, he was pleased with his personal best. “It was not the time that I was hoping for. With the conditions today, I am really so proud and it is a big step for me moving forward,” stated Cheptegei, highlighting his readiness for future challenges despite the unforeseen heat conditions.
In conclusion, the 2025 Tokyo Marathon showcased exceptional performances by Ethiopian runners Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede, both of whom secured top positions in their respective categories. With personal bests achieved amidst challenging conditions, both Takele and Cheptegei expressed optimism for future competitions. The event also celebrated the return of Paula Radcliffe, further enhancing the legacy of marathon running.
Original Source: www.olympics.com
