Tadese Takele won the Tokyo Marathon, finishing in 2:03:23, with Cheptegei ninth in 2:05:59. Kebede defended her women’s title. The event emphasized performances amid warm weather conditions, with notable returns, including Paula Radcliffe.
Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele triumphed at the Tokyo Marathon on March 2, clocking an impressive time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 23 seconds. He broke away from the pack approximately 4 kilometers before the finish, earning his first significant marathon title and surpassing his previous personal best by a second. Following him, Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta secured second place with a time of 2:03:51, while Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich finished third in 2:04:00.
In the women’s race, defending champion Sutume Asefa Kebede from Ethiopia maintained her title, completing the marathon in 2:16:31. Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti claimed second place with a time of 2:16:56, whereas Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa rounded out the podium in third with a finish of 2:17:00.
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, renowned for his Olympic achievements in the 5,000m and 10,000m events, finished ninth in his second marathon attempt with a time of 2:05:59. Cheptegei expressed gratitude for participating in the Tokyo Marathon, indicating positives as he prepares for future competitions while acknowledging the challenges presented by the warmer weather.
Despite the weather conditions nearing 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) by race end, Cheptegei remained optimistic about his performance and views this marathon as beneficial for his training and goals ahead. Additionally, Benson Kipruto of Kenya, the previous year’s Tokyo champion and bronze medalist in the Paris Olympics marathon, finished sixth with a time of 2:05:46.
Remarkably, former women’s world record-holder Paula Radcliffe completed her first marathon in a decade at the age of 51, finishing in 2:57:26. She has announced plans to participate in the Boston Marathon next month, showcasing her resilience and continuous passion for the sport.
In summary, Tadese Takele showcased exceptional talent by winning the Tokyo Marathon, while Joshua Cheptegei demonstrated resilience in his performance despite the challenges of the heat. Sutume Asefa Kebede successfully defended her title in the women’s race, further emphasizing the competitive spirit of this event. Notably, Paula Radcliffe’s return to marathon running adds an inspiring narrative to the day’s achievements.
Original Source: www.malaymail.com
