Brigid Kosgei runs 2:14:29 in Tokyo; three men finish within a second

Brigid Kosgei won the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday in 2:14:29, a course record and, by the organiser's count, the seventh-fastest women's marathon ever run. The former world record holder passed halfway in 1:07:37 and came home more than two minutes clear of Ethiopia's Bertukan Welde, 2:16:36, with Hawi Feysa third in 2:17:39. Sutume Asefa Kebede, chasing a third straight Tokyo title, was fourth. It was Kosgei's first marathon win since her world record in 2019, and her second in Tokyo in four years.

The men's race came down to the last 500 metres. Daniel Mateiko, one of four left in front, dropped off, and Ethiopia's Tadese Takele outkicked Kenya's Geofry Toroitich with both credited 2:03:37. Alexander Mutiso was a second behind in 2:03:38. Takele, 23, ran 2:03:23 here in 2025. Race director Yasuhiro Oshima said morning wind had held the pace down.

The depth was the story underneath. Twelve men broke 2:06 and 27 broke 2:08. China's Feng Peiyou ran a national record 2:05:58 for 11th. Suguru Osako, who set the Japanese record in Valencia in December, was the first Japanese finisher in 2:05:59, 12th, with Kengo Suzuki a place behind in 2:06:09. Casey Clinger was the top American in 2:08:43. Ai Hosoda, in her last race before retiring, was tenth woman in 2:23:39.

Conditions at the start were sunny and 16.6 C. A one-second podium after 42 kilometres is the kind of thing that happens about once a decade. Tokyo got it on a warm morning with a headwind.

Sources: Tokyo Marathon Foundation; Athletics Illustrated.