The more than one Olympic observe champion will participate in his 2nd ever race over 26.2 miles within the Jap capital
Joshua Cheptegei, the present 5000m and 10,000m global record-holder, headlines this 12 months’s Tokyo Marathon (March 2).
The 28-year-old, who’s a more than one Olympic observe champion and secured 10,000m gold in Paris remaining summer season, will compete in simply his 2nd ever race over 26.2 miles.
Cheptegei made his expected debut within the distance in Valencia two years in the past, with the Ugandan striking thirty seventh in 2:08:59, including that “the marathon has no respect for people”.
First attracted to the marathon as a 15-year-old – he noticed fellow Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich race to Olympic gold at London 2012 – Cheptegei at all times dreamed of competing over 26.2 miles and, prior to Valencia, sought recommendation from compatriot Kiprotich and Eliud Kipchoge.
Joshua Cheptegei (Getty)
Cheptegei, who additionally changed into global person cross-country champion in Aarhus six years in the past, will likely be hoping to make use of that roughly energy and stamina to say a private absolute best within the marathon in Tokyo.
He’s going to face stiff pageant then again, with the favorite for the lads’s box being reigning champion Benson Kipruto.
Kipruto, who secured victory eventually 12 months’s Tokyo Marathon in a private absolute best of two:0216, additionally claimed bronze for Kenya over the space on the Paris Olympics.
A 3-time main winner, Kipruto additionally triumphed on the 2021 Boston and 2022 Chicago Marathons respectively.
Benson Kipruto (Getty)
This 12 months’s version in Tokyo would be the 33-year-old’s seventeenth marathon, so he additionally has enjoy on his facet within the Jap capital.
Ethiopia’s Deresa Gelata, who positioned 5th on the Paris Olympics, will likely be one to observe.
Gelata boasts a absolute best of two:02:38 within the marathon, recorded remaining month in Valencia, which put him 7th at the all-time listing in the back of Kipruto.
It’s a surprisingly sturdy males’s box in Tokyo, with different athletes to appear out for together with Birhanu Legese (2:02:48), Vincent Kipkemoi (2:03:13), Tadese Takele (2:03:24), Dawit Wolde (2:03:48) and Leul Gebresilase (2:04:02).
Sutume Asefa Kebede (Getty)
In a extremely aggressive girls’s box, Sutume Kebede is the slight favorite because the reigning champion, despite the fact that she will likely be examined closely in Tokyo.
Ultimately 12 months’s version, the Ethiopian received through 19 seconds and clocked a private absolute best of two:15:55 in her victory.
Kebede will likely be assured of protecting her crown, particularly after striking 2nd in Chicago, however faces 3 of the highest 10 at the girls’s marathon all-time listing.
Former global record-holder Brigid Kosgei might be neatly be Sebede’s largest risk and could also be a prior winner of the Tokyo Marathon.
Brigid Kosgei (Getty)
Kosgei, who has a absolute best of two:14:04, additionally positioned 2nd within the Olympic marathon 5 years in the past and has triumphed at 5 majors.
Don’t depend out Tigist Ketema (2:16:07) and Rosemary Wanjiru (2:16:04), who’re 8th and 9th at the all-time listing over 26.2 miles respectively.
Gotytom Gebreslase would possibly have a slower non-public absolute best (2:18:11) however, because the 2022 global marathon champion, is more likely to contend for the win as neatly.
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