Kipruto, Kebede win Tokyo Marathon, setting new course records

Kenyan Benson Kipruto won the men's Tokyo Marathon in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds on Sunday, breaking former world record holder and fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge's course mark in perfect racing conditions on the streets of the Japanese capital. Two-time Olympic champion Kipochoge came tenth for his lowest finish in 20 career races. 

Kipruto pulled clear of Timothy Kiplagat over the last few kilometers and finished 39 seconds ahead of his compatriot to add the Tokyo title to those he won in Boston in 2021 and Chicago in 2022. The 32-year-old's time was almost two minutes better than his previous personal best, making him the fifth-fastest marathon runner of all time in events approved by World Athletics.

Kiplagat had to be convinced not to pull out of the race by his coach after the death of his training partner, marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, in a road accident last month. Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich finished third in 2:04:18 to give Kenya a podium sweep, with Ethiopians Hailemaryam Kiros and Tsegaye Getachew in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

On the women's side, Ethiopia's Sutume Asefa Kebede won the women's race ahead of Kenya's defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru in 2:15:55, also bettering previous women's best time over the course from Shinjuku to the Imperial Palace.

Kebede and Wanjiru had been in the leading group throughout the women's race, and it was only in the latter stages that the Ethiopian was able to pull clear of her rival to claim her first major marathon title by 19 seconds. Her time bettered Brigid Kosgei's 2022 women's course record of 2:16:02 and took more than two minutes off her previous personal best time of 2:18:12.

Kebede's compatriot Amane Beriso was third with 2:16:58, more than a minute clear of Dutch Olympic long-distance track champion Sifan Hassan in fourth place.

Among local runners, Ichitaka Yamashita was the fastest Japanese man,  finishing ninth with a time of 2:06:31. Meanwhile, Hitomi Niiya took the local honors in the women's race with a sixth-placed finish of 2:21:50.

(With input from Reuters)