Tokyo Marathon Course Record Falls
Kenya's Brigid Kosgei set a new Tokyo Marathon course record with a time of 2:14:29, finishing over two minutes clear of the field. Ethiopia's Tadese Takele defended his men's title following a thrilling sprint finish, reinforcing East Africa's continued dominance in marathon running.
Brigid Kosgei's winning time of 2:14:29 didn't just break the Tokyo Marathon course record, it shattered the previous best of 2:15:55, set by Sutume Asefa Kebede in 2024, by a remarkable one minute and 26 seconds. This victory marks Kosgei's second win in Tokyo, her first coming in the 2021 edition of the race. The Kenyan superstar's time in Tokyo is the second-fastest of her career and the seventh-fastest women's marathon in history. It comes tantalizingly close to her own former world record of 2:14:04, which she set at the Chicago Marathon in 2019. The men's race provided a dramatic contrast to Kosgei's dominant performance. Tadese Takele's victory came down to the wire, as he and Kenya's Geoffrey Toroitich were both credited with the identical finishing time of 2:03:37. The third-place finisher, Alexander Mutiso, was a mere second behind them, making it one of the closest podium finishes in the history of the World Marathon Majors. This victory marks the second consecutive Tokyo Marathon title for the 23-year-old Ethiopian, making him the first man to win back-to-back titles since 2020. The results underscore the continued marathon supremacy of Ethiopia and Kenya; the two nations are tied for the most all-time wins in the Tokyo Marathon's history, with 12 victories each.
