The Tokyo Marathon, kicking off this year’s World Marathon Majors series, captivated the global running community. The Japanese capital hosted elite athletes from around the world, who faced not only a challenging course but also high temperatures exceeding 20 degrees Celsius. These conditions added an extra layer of difficulty, making the competition even more intense and thrilling.
Tadese Takele Claims Victory
Among the men, Tadese Takele from Ethiopia emerged as the winner. He crossed the finish line with a time of 2:03:23, setting a new personal best by just one second. Takele, who previously specialized in the 3000-meter steeplechase, has been making waves in road racing over the past few years. His marathon debut came in 2023 at the Berlin Marathon, where he finished third.
Second place in Tokyo went to another Ethiopian, Deresa Geleta, who clocked in at 2:03:51. Kenyan Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich secured third place for the second consecutive year with a time of 2:04:00.
Joshua Cheptegei and Other Notable Performances
Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, a two-time Olympic champion on the track, completed his second career marathon in ninth place. He set a new personal best of 2:05:56, showcasing his growing potential in road racing.
Defending champion Benson Kipruto from Kenya, who also won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finished sixth this year with a time of 2:05:44. Another standout performance came from Sweden’s Suldan Hassan, who set a new national record of 2:05:57 despite running with impaired vision (he is blind in one eye).
Women’s Race: Sutume Asefa Kebede Reigns Again
In the women’s race, Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia claimed victory once more. She successfully defended her title from last year and finished with a time of 2:16:31. Although slightly slower than her course record of 2:15:55 set last year, Kebede dominated from the start and maintained her lead throughout the race.
Kenyan Winfrida Moraa Moseti secured second place with a time of 2:16:56. Hawi Feysa, another Ethiopian athlete, finished third and improved her personal best to 2:17:00. Both runners achieved one of the greatest successes of their careers.
Tokyo Marathon 2025 Results
Paula Radcliffe Returns to the Course
One of the most remarkable moments of this year’s marathon was Paula Radcliffe’s return to competitive running. The former world record holder completed her first marathon since retiring in 2015, finishing in 2:57:26 and placing 111th overall. Radcliffe has already announced her participation in Boston in a few weeks, signaling her continued involvement in prestigious running events.
—
The Tokyo Marathon 2025 delivered excitement and unexpected turns. The high level of competition and outstanding performances by athletes promise an enthralling World Marathon Majors season ahead for both fans and participants alike.
