Benson Kipruto is the big winner of the Tokyo Marathon. The Kenyan won in a record time of 2h02mn16s. This is the 5th fastest time in the history of the 42.195 km race. Ethiopia's Sutume Kebede won the women's race in 2h15mn55s.
Benson Kipruto makes history. The Kenyan won the Tokyo Marathon for the first time in his career on Sunday March 3. Kipruto outclassed the competition with a time of 2:02:16, the fifth-best time in the history of the 42.196 km race. At the same time, he set the course record."I didn't know we were on a world record pace, there was no problem, we were ready," said the 32-year-old Chicago 2022 winner. It was a 100% Kenyan podium, with Timothy Kiplagat (2h02mn55s) and Vincent Kipkemoi (2h04mn18s) finishing second and third respectively.
Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge, the second-best performer of all time, finished only tenth in 2:06.50. "It's not every day Christmas," lamented the former world distance record-holder. The double Olympic champion was severely weakened after around twenty kilometers in this race."Something happened in the middle of the race", Kipchoge told Japanese channel Nippon TV, without specifying exactly what it was.
Sutume Asefa Kebede wins women's title
The Tokyo Marathon took place less than a month after the death of world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana in a road accident in Kenya. Ethiopia's Sutume Asefa Kebede won the women's race in 2 h15min55s. Kebede beat her personal best by more than two minutes to set the 8th fastest women's time in history. "I managed to set a course record and I didn't expect to do that," she exclaimed. She beat defending Kenyan champion Rosemary Wanjiru (2 h 16 min 14 s) and Ethiopian world champion Amane Beriso Shankule (2 h 16 min 58 s).
Course records fall in Tokyo 🗼
🇰🇪's Benson Kipruto moves up to 5th on the marathon all time-list with 2:02:16 👏
🇪🇹's Sutume Kebede clocks 2:15:55, which puts her in 8th place on the all-time list. pic.twitter.com/H8ZJIqsor9
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) March 3, 2024
