The highly anticipated Tokyo Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, took place on Sunday (3). Kenya’s Benson Kipruto and Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede, in a stunning display of athleticism, set new Japanese all-comers’ records.
Kipruto secured a convincing victory with a stellar time of 2:02:16, outpacing fellow Kenyans Timothy Kiplagat and Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich. Meanwhile, Kebede dominated the women’s competition with an impressive time of 2:15:55, triumphing over Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru and Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso, the reigning world champion.
This year’s triumphs surpassed the previous records established by Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei in 2022. Kipchoge, a former world record-holder, aimed to reclaim his Tokyo title but finished in 10th place with a time of 2:06:50.
The men’s race started at an electrifying world record pace, featuring a formidable group of runners, including Kipruto, Kiplagat, Ngetich, and Kipchoge. However, by the 20km mark, a noticeable gap emerged between Kipruto and Kipchoge, who faced challenges in maintaining the swift tempo. Seizing control, Kipruto surged ahead, leaving his competitors behind and securing a well-deserved victory.
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Reflecting on his performance, Kipruto shared, “I trained for it, and I was prepared for anything that might come my way.” He not only claimed the course record but also expressed satisfaction with his overall performance.
The marathon unfolded as a tale of contrasting fortunes for Kipruto and Kipchoge. Throughout the second half of the race, Kipruto maintained his momentum, while Kipchoge struggled. By the 25th kilometer, the gap between the two widened to over a minute, ultimately leading to Kipruto’s decisive triumph.
In a post-race interview, Kipchoge acknowledged that “something happened” during the race but did not provide further details. He finished behind the top Japanese runner, Nishiyama Yusuke, expressing uncertainty about his future endeavors, particularly the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The 2024 Tokyo Marathon etched its place in history with Kipruto’s exceptional performance and Kipchoge’s unexpected challenges, creating a narrative of triumph and adversity on the renowned marathon course.
