Ethiopia triumphed at the Tokyo Marathon, with Tadese Takele winning the men’s race and Sutume Asefa Kebede defending her women’s title. Takele finished in 2:03:23, while Kebede completed her race in 2:16:31. Joshua Cheptegei finished ninth in 2:05:59, and Paula Radcliffe returned to marathons, finishing in 2:57:26 at age 51.
Ethiopia showcased its dominance at the Tokyo Marathon, held on Sunday, by clinching victories in both the men’s and women’s races. Tadese Takele emerged victorious in the men’s competition, finishing with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 23 seconds. He gained the lead with approximately four kilometers remaining, marking his inaugural major marathon victory and surpassing his personal best by one second.
Takele’s Ethiopian compatriot, Deresa Geleta, finished second with a time of 2:03:51, while Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich secured third place at 2:04:00. “The weather wasn’t a problem, it wasn’t too hot and for me it was comfortable,” stated Takele. He expressed satisfaction with the course, adding, “This was a great day for me. In the future, I hope to run even better than I did today.”
In the women’s race, Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia successfully defended her title, concluding with a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 31 seconds. Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti took second place at 2:16:56, followed closely by Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa, who finished third at 2:17:00.
Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, the double Olympic champion, participated in his second marathon after debuting two years ago in Valencia. He completed the race in 2:05:59, finishing ninth. Notably, former women’s world record-holder Paula Radcliffe, now 51 years old, marked her return to marathons after a decade by finishing in 2:57:26. Radcliffe also announced plans to compete in the Boston Marathon next month.
The Tokyo Marathon witnessed a remarkable performance, particularly from Ethiopian athletes who dominated both men’s and women’s events. Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede emerged as champions, reflecting Ethiopia’s strong long-distance running tradition. Joshua Cheptegei’s participation added intrigue, as did Paula Radcliffe’s impressive return to racing at an age when few manage such feats. Overall, the event was a testament to the endurance and athletic excellence in the marathon realm.
Original Source: news.rthk.hk
