Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei set a new course record with a dominant victory at the Tokyo Marathon.
The 32-year-old crossed the line in 2:14:29, finishing more than two minutes clear of Ethiopia’s Bertukan Welde, who clocked 2:16:36. Hawi Feysa secured third place in 2:17:39.
The previous course record of 2:15:55 had been set in 2024 by Sutume Asefa Kebede.
Kosgei, who also won the Tokyo Marathon in 2021 and claimed Olympic silver in the same city, said she hopes to represent Turkey at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“We have a lot of athletes in Kenya,” she said. “I want some young generation to follow my step to join me in Turkey.”
Takele defends men’s title
In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele successfully defended his title in a dramatic sprint finish.
Takele clocked 2:03:37 — the same official time as Kenya’s Geoffrey Toroitich — with Alexander Mutiso Munyao just one second behind in third.
“I knew that the final stage would be decisive,” said the 23-year-old Takele. “Around 41km I wanted to wait and see what would happen and then I made my move right before the finish.”
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