Brigid Kosgei Sets Tokyo Marathon Course Record As Tadese Takele Defends Men’s Crown

Brigid Kosgei won the women’s race at the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday (1) in Tokyo, Japan, breaking the course record with a time of 2:14:29 and setting a new Asian all-comers’ mark. According to World Athletics race coverage, the Kenyan’s performance ranked as the seventh-fastest women’s marathon in history. Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele retained the men’s title later the same morning, prevailing in a sprint finish.

Kosgei, 32, ran stride for stride with two-time defending champion Sutume Asefa Kebede through 30 kilometres before accelerating decisively in the closing stages. Race organisers confirmed that her time eclipsed Kebede’s 2024 course record of 2:15:55 and improved the fastest marathon ever run on Asian soil.

Unofficial results published by the Tokyo Marathon Website showed Ethiopia’s Bertukan Welde finishing second in 2:16:36, a personal best. Hawi Feysa secured third in 2:17:39, edging Kebede on the line as the defending champion placed fourth in the same time.

Kosgei’s winning mark came within 25 seconds of her personal best of 2:14:04, which she set in 2019 when she established a women’s-only world record in Chicago, according to World Athletics Website. The Tokyo victory marked her sixth World Marathon Major triumph, adding to previous wins in Chicago (2018, 2019), London (2019, 2020) and Tokyo (2021).

Organisers stated that Kosgei became one of only three women to win the Tokyo Marathon twice. Her return to the top step of the podium followed several seasons affected by injury, reasserting her position among the leading figures in women’s marathon running.

In the men’s race, Takele executed a calculated finish to defend his title. The Ethiopian matched moves from Kenya’s Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba and compatriot Alexander Mutiso Munyao before launching his final surge in the closing metres.

Takele crossed the line in 2:03:37, with Kipchumba credited with the same time and Munyao finishing one second behind, according to official race results. The victory made Takele only the second man to secure consecutive Tokyo Marathon titles.

The Tokyo Marathon forms part of the World Marathon Majors series and holds World Athletics Platinum Label status. Sunday’s results strengthened Kosgei’s global ranking credentials ahead of the remaining major marathons this season, while Takele confirmed his consistency at the top tier of international road racing.

Sunday Oladokun for Women’s Sport World