Ethiopia¡¯s Tadese Takele successfully defended his Tokyo Marathon title on Sunday, edging Kenya¡¯s Geoffrey Toroitich in a sprint finish to cross the line in 2:03:37.
Takele finished with the same official time as Toroitich after a dramatic battle for the line, with Kenya¡¯s Alexander Mutiso just one second further behind in third place.
Kenya¡¯s Brigid Kosgei won the women¡¯s race in 2:14:29, more than two minutes ahead of Ethiopia¡¯s Berukan Welde in second.
Ethiopia¡¯s Sutume Asefa Kebede, the 2024 Tokyo Marathon champion, was third.
Kosgei, the Tokyo Marathon champion and Olympic silver medalist in 2021, has said she will compete for Turkey at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
In warm, dry conditions in the Japanese capital, a leading pack including Takele, Toroitich, Mutiso and Kenya¡¯s Daniel Mateiko broke away around the 37-kilometer mark.
Takele made a break for it and managed to stay in front despite a last-gasp challenge from Toroitich.
The men¡¯s field was weakened by the withdrawal through injury of Kenya¡¯s Timothy Kiplagat and Ethiopia¡¯s Milkesa Mengesha in the lead-up to the race.
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