Tadese Takele Claims Victory in Tokyo Marathon as Cheptegei Finishes Ninth

Tadese Takele won the Tokyo Marathon with a time of 2:03:23, marking his first major title. Sutume Asefa Kebede defended her title in the women’s race, finishing in 2:16:31. Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda finished ninth in 2:05:59, citing challenges due to warm weather.

Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele emerged victorious in the Tokyo Marathon, clocking a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 23 seconds. He surged ahead of the competition about 4 kilometers from the finish line, achieving his first major marathon title and improving his personal best by one second. Deresa Geleta from Ethiopia finished in second place at 2:03:51, while Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich secured third with a time of 2:04:00.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede successfully defended her title and crossed the finish line in 2:16:31. She was followed by Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti in second place at 2:16:56, and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa completed the podium in third with a time of 2:17:00. The championship showcased outstanding performances amid warm conditions.

Notably, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, a double Olympic champion, finished ninth in his second marathon, achieving a time of 2:05:59. Cheptegei expressed gratitude for his experience in Tokyo, acknowledging the challenges posed by the unusually warm weather but emphasizing the positives for future races. “I’m really satisfied with the result and it can be a build-up for next season,” he stated.

Other notable finishers included last year’s Tokyo champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Benson Kipruto of Kenya, who placed sixth in 2:05:46, and former women’s world record-holder Paula Radcliffe. At 51 years old, Radcliffe returned to marathon running after a decade, completing the course in 2:57:26 and planning to participate in the Boston Marathon next month.

In summary, the Tokyo Marathon showcased remarkable achievements with Tadese Takele winning the men’s event and Sutume Asefa Kebede triumphing in the women’s. Joshua Cheptegei displayed resilience despite challenging weather, marking a significant step in his marathon career. The event highlighted both emerging talents and legendary athletes returning to the sport.

Original Source: www.malaymail.com