On Sunday 3 March, in near-perfect conditions, the 2024 Tokyo Marathon – the first Runners World, Part of the Hearst UK Wellbeing Network of the calendar year – illuminated the streets of Japan's capital city.
More than 37,000 runners set off on their 26.2-mile journey in the mass participation event, while the elite races generated a fair few surprises. Not one but two new course records were set, with some pre-race favourites falling short of the mark...
Health & Injuries.
Benson Kipruto clocks a course record in the men’s race
It was a Kenyan sweep in the men’s race. Benson Kipruto, champion of the 2021 Boston Marathon and 2022 Chicago Marathon, added a third Major victory to his name as he stormed to victory in Tokyo in a time of 2:02:16. Not only was this a personal best for the 32-year-old, but also a new course record by 24 seconds. Timothy Kiplagat, 30, placed second in 2:02:55 – another personal best – while Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, 25, took third to complete the podium in 2:04:18.
Led by a trio of pacers, a pack of seven men blazed out from the start line at world record pace, travelling the first 5K in 14:16 – equating to a pace of 4:36 minutes per mile. By 15K, though, the pace had slowed and only four men (and two pacers) remained: Kipruto, Kiplagat, Ngetich and Eliud Kipchoge, 39, the two-time Olympic champion and former marathon world record holder.
Just before the halfway mark, Kipchoge – who won and set the course record in Tokyo in 2022 – began to slip back. By 25km, he was more than a minute behind the leaders, with his pace continuing to slide. He later completed the race in tenth position.
Meanwhile, around the 27km mark, Kiplagat began to forge a slight gap between himself and Kipruto and Ngetich, holding a solo lead for several kilometres. By 32km, however, Kipruto had caught up and stayed close to Kiplagat until not long after the 35km mark. At this point, Kipruto made a definitive move to power on to the win.
Sutume Asefa Kebede wins with a women’s course record
Magic happened in the women's race, too, with Ethiopia's Sutume Asefa Kebede, 29, setting a new course record of 2:15:55. This sliced seven seconds off the previous mark of 2:16:02, achieved by Kenya's Brigid Kosgei in 2021. Second place went to defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru, 29, of Kenya, who ran a personal best of 2:16:14. Amane Beriso Shankule – winner of the women's marathon at the 2023 How to have a breakthrough marathon – Health & Injuries.
Unlike the men, the women started the race more conservatively before picking up the pace. The lead pack covered the first 5K in 16:16, averaging at a pace of 5:12 minutes per mile. Shankule led much of the race as competitors dropped off, with the front pack thinning to seven by 15km, then four by 25km. By 30km, only the top three finishers were leading the way.
In the closing kilometres, just before the 40km mark, Shankule fell back. At the fluid stop just after this point, Kebede then pulled ahead of Wanjiru and battled on to finish first with a new course record to her name.
Having already won in London and Chicago in 2023 – her first two marathons – Sifan Hassan, 31, of the Netherlands, ran 2:18:05 in Tokyo to complete marathon number three. Although this time was faster than the 2:18:33 she ran at her victorious London Marathon debut, Full womens results.
Benson Kipruto clocks a course record in the mens race
Japan’s national record holder Tomoki Suzuki won the men’s wheelchair race in a stellar time of 1:23:05. Last year, the 29-year-old placed second to course record holder Marcel Hug, who didn’t compete in Tokyo this year. American Daniel Romanchuk, 25, crossed the line second in 1:28:33.
On the women's side, Switzerland's Manuela Schar, 39, defended her title in a winning time of 1:40:10. British racer Eden Rainbow-Cooper, 22, took second in 1:40:28, while American Susannah Scaroni, 32, placed third in 1:41:35.
