Tokyo Marathon 2025: Ethiopian Duo Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa…

During the Tokyo Marathon on March 2, 2025, Ethiopian athletes Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede clinched the men’s and women’s titles, respectively. Takele finished in 2:03:23, while Kebede secured her victory with 2:16:29. The race featured strong performances from both Ethiopian and Kenyan runners amid challenging weather conditions.

On March 2, 2025, the Tokyo Marathon witnessed an Ethiopian sweep as Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede seized the men’s and women’s titles, respectively. Takele, an Olympic steeplechaser, finished with a time of 2:03:23, while Kebede defended her title with an impressive time of 2:16:29. Takele also led an Ethiopian one-two finish, with Deresa Geleta following closely in 2:03:51. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich secured third place for the second consecutive year, clocking in at 2:04:00.

In the women’s category, Kebede’s victory was supported by Winfrida Moraa Moseti of Kenya, who finished second in 2:16:56, and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa, who completed the race in 2:17:00. Prominent two-time Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei achieved a personal best of 2:05:56, coming in ninth during just his second marathon outing. As temperatures soared above 20 degrees Celsius, defending men’s champion Benson Kipruto placed sixth with a time of 2:05:44.

In a notable return to marathon running since her retirement, Paula Radcliffe placed 111th with a time of 2:57:26. The veteran runner, now 51, has plans to participate in the Boston Marathon to secure her Six Star finisher status after completing all six major marathons.

Takele made his decisive move with only 3 kilometers remaining, breaking away from the leading group of three runners. This marks the third marathon in his career, following a seventh-place finish in Berlin last year. “I prepared well and I’m happy I raced a new personal best,” Takele expressed. He aims to improve further and has set his sights on winning an Olympic medal in the future.

Cheptegei had ambitions of achieving a finish time of around 2:04 but ultimately expressed satisfaction with his performance despite the conditions. “I can probably say that now, I’ve at least run almost three minutes off my PB and this is really incredible for me,” he stated. He acknowledged that the weather conditions were challenging, yet he feels proud of his performance as a crucial foundational step for his upcoming competitive season.

The Tokyo Marathon 2025 showcased the excellence of Ethiopian athletes, with Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede claiming the top positions. Their performances, alongside notable finishes from other international competitors, underscored the increasingly competitive landscape of marathon running. As athletes like Joshua Cheptegei reflected on personal growth, the event not only highlighted physical prowess but also the potential for future success and Olympic aspirations.

Original Source: www.olympics.com