Tokyo Marathon Record Smashed
Kenya's Brigid Kosgei shattered the Tokyo Marathon course record with a commanding 2:14:29 finish — more than two minutes faster than the previous mark. Ethiopia's Tadese Takele defended his men's title in a thrilling sprint finish. This adds to Kosgei's 2021 Tokyo victory, cementing her elite status.
Brigid Kosgei's 2:14:29 finish is the seventh-fastest women's marathon time in history and the second-quickest of her career. It comes tantalizingly close to her personal best of 2:14:04, the former world record she set at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. The Kenyan didn't just break the old Tokyo record, she obliterated it. The previous mark of 2:15:55 was set in 2024 by Ethiopia's Sutume Asefa Kebede. Kebede ran with Kosgei for the first 30 kilometers of this year's race before fading to a fourth-place finish. This victory marks a significant return to form for the 32-year-old Kosgei, who has battled injuries in recent years. The win is her sixth Abbott World Marathon Majors title, adding to her two victories each in Chicago and London. The men's race provided a finish for the ages, with three athletes finishing within a single second of each other. Tadese Takele and Kenya's Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba were both officially clocked at 2:03:37, with Alexander Mutiso Munyao finishing third in 2:03:38. With the victory, Takele becomes only the second man to win back-to-back Tokyo Marathon titles. The 23-year-old Ethiopian timed his final move perfectly, waiting until the 41km mark before unleashing the decisive sprint to the line. The depth of the elite field was on full display, with four men finishing under the 2:04 mark. In the women's race, Ethiopians Bertukan Welde (2:16:36) and Hawi Feysa (2:17:39) took second and third place, respectively.
