The a number of Olympic observe champion will participate in his second ever race over 26.2 miles within the Japanese capital
Joshua Cheptegei, the present 5000m and 10,000m world record-holder, headlines this 12 months’s Tokyo Marathon (March 2).
The 28-year-old, who’s a a number of Olympic observe champion and secured 10,000m gold in Paris final summer season, will compete in simply his second ever race over 26.2 miles.
Cheptegei made his anticipated debut within the distance in Valencia two years in the past, with the Ugandan inserting thirty seventh in 2:08:59, including that “the marathon has no respect for individuals”.
First drawn 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, earlier than Valencia, sought recommendation from compatriot Kiprotich and Eliud Kipchoge.
Joshua Cheptegei (Getty)
Cheptegei, who additionally turned world particular person cross-country champion in Aarhus six years in the past, might be hoping to make use of that form of energy and stamina to say a private greatest within the marathon in Tokyo.
He’ll face stiff competitors nonetheless, with the favorite for the lads’s area being reigning champion Benson Kipruto.
Kipruto, who secured victory finally 12 months’s Tokyo Marathon in a private greatest of two:02:16, 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 expertise on his facet within the Japanese capital.
Ethiopia’s Deresa Gelata, who positioned fifth on the Paris Olympics, might be one to look at.
Gelata boasts a greatest of two:02:38 within the marathon, recorded final month in Valencia, which put him seventh on the all-time record behind Kipruto.
It’s an extremely robust males’s area in Tokyo, with different athletes to look 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 aggressive girls’s area, Sutume Kebede is the slight favorite because the reigning champion, despite the fact that she might be examined closely in Tokyo.
Eventually 12 months’s version, the Ethiopian gained by 19 seconds and clocked a private greatest of two:15:55 in her victory.
Kebede might be assured of retaining her crown, particularly after inserting second in Chicago, however faces three of the highest 10 on the ladies’s marathon all-time record.
Former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei might be effectively be Sebede’s greatest risk and can also be a earlier winner of the Tokyo Marathon.
Brigid Kosgei (Getty)
Kosgei, who has a greatest of two:14:04, additionally positioned second within the Olympic marathon 5 years in the past and has triumphed at 5 majors.
Don’t rely out Tigist Ketema (2:16:07) and Rosemary Wanjiru (2:16:04), who’re eighth and ninth on the all-time record over 26.2 miles respectively.
Gotytom Gebreslase may need a slower private greatest (2:18:11) however, because the 2022 world marathon champion, is prone to contend for the win as effectively.
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