Kosgei smashes Tokyo Marathon course record

Brigid Kosgei delivered a masterclass performance at the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday, obliterating the course record to claim victory in the Japanese capital.

The 32-year-old Kenyan crossed the finish line in 2:14:29, more than two minutes ahead of Ethiopian runner-up Bertukan Welde (2:16:36). Her compatriot Hawi Feysa completed the podium in third place with a time of 2:17:39.

The commanding run of Kosgei erased the previous course record of 2:15:55, set by two-time Tokyo winner Sutume Asefa Kebede in 2024.

The 2021 Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, who represented Kenya at those Games, revealed plans to switch allegiance ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“We have a lot of athletes in Kenya,“ Kosgei explained. “I want some young generation to follow my step to join me in Turkey.”

In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele successfully defended his title after a dramatic sprint finish.

The 23-year-old clocked 2:03:37, matching the official time of runner-up Geoffrey Toroitich of Kenya. Another Kenyan, Alexander Mutiso Munyao, finished just one second behind in third.

“I knew that the final stage would be decisive,” Takele said. “Around 41km I wanted to wait and see what would happen and then I made my move right before the finish.”