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 yr’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 time, 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 all the time 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, will probably be hoping to make use of that sort of energy and stamina to say a private finest within the marathon in Tokyo.
He’ll face stiff competitors nonetheless, with the favorite for the boys’s discipline being reigning champion Benson Kipruto.
Kipruto, who secured victory ultimately yr’s Tokyo Marathon in a private finest of two:02:16, additionally claimed bronze for Kenya over the gap 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 yr’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, will probably be one to look at.
Gelata boasts a finest 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 sturdy males’s discipline 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 discipline, Sutume Kebede is the slight favorite because the reigning champion, regardless that she will probably be examined closely in Tokyo.
Ultimately yr’s version, the Ethiopian received by 19 seconds and clocked a private finest of two:15:55 in her victory.
Kebede will probably 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 could possibly be nicely be Sebede’s largest risk and can also be a earlier winner of the Tokyo Marathon.
Brigid Kosgei (Getty)
Kosgei, who has a finest 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 finest (2:18:11) however, because the 2022 world marathon champion, is prone to contend for the win as nicely.
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