Trending Now - Kosgei Sets New Record at Tokyo Marathon, Takele Defends Title

WHO:

Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) - Winner of the women's race

Bertukan Welde (Ethiopia) - Second place in the women's race

Hawi Feysa (Ethiopia) - Third place in the women's race

Sutume Asefa Kebede (Ethiopia) - Fourth place in the women's race

Tadese Takele (Ethiopia) - Winner of the men's race and title defender

Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba (Kenya) - Second place in the men's race

Alexander Mutiso Munyao (Kenya) - Third place in the men's race

Megertu Alemu (Ethiopia) - Fifth place in the women's race

Violah Cheptoo (Kenya) - Sixth place in the women's race

Ai Hosoda (Japan) - Tenth place in the women's race

Muktar Edris (Ethiopia) - Fifth place in the men's race

Iliass Aouani (Italy) - Sixth place in the men's race

Feng Peiyou (China) - Eleventh place in the men's race

WHAT:

Brigid Kosgei set a new course record at the Tokyo Marathon with a time of 2:14:29.

Bertukan Welde finished second with a time of 2:16:36.

Hawi Feysa and Sutume Asefa Kebede both finished third with a time of 2:17:39.

Tadese Takele defended his title with a time of 2:03:37, the same as second-placed Geoffrey Toroitich.

Alexander Mutiso Munyao finished third in the men's race with a time of 2:03:38.

The previous course record was 2:15:55, set by Sutume Asefa Kebede in 2024.

Kosgei's victory marked her sixth World Marathon Majors win.

WHERE:

Tokyo Marathon, Tokyo, Japan

WHEN:

The Tokyo Marathon took place on March 1, 2026.

Kosgei won the marathon silver for Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The previous course record was set in 2024.

WHY:

Kosgei expressed a desire for young athletes in Kenya to follow her path and join her in representing Turkey at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

HOW:

Kosgei reached the 10km mark in 32:14, maintaining a pace for a course record.

At the halfway point, she and Kebede were running together, passing in 1:07:37.

Kosgei broke away from the pack at 30km, reaching it in 1:35:53, and created a 22-second lead by 35km.

In the men's race, a group of ten runners reached 30km in 1:28:01, with Takele waiting for the right moment to sprint to victory.

At the Tokyo Marathon held today, Brigid Kosgei of Kenya set a new course record for the women's race with an impressive time of 2:14:29, while Tadese Takele of Ethiopia defended his title in the men's race, also finishing with a remarkable time of 2:03:37. In the women's race, Bertukan Welde took second place with a time of 2:16:36, and both Hawi Feysa and Sutume Asefa Kebede finished third with matching times of 2:17:39, while in the men's race, Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba secured second place just one second behind Takele. Kosgei's victory today marks her sixth World Marathon Majors win and she hopes to inspire young athletes in Kenya to follow her path toward the 2028 Los Angeles Games.