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 folks”.
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 grew to become world particular person cross-country champion in Aarhus six years in the past, can be hoping to make use of that form 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 area being reigning champion Benson Kipruto.
Kipruto, who secured victory eventually 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 aspect within the Japanese capital.
Ethiopia’s Deresa Gelata, who positioned fifth on the Paris Olympics, can 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 checklist 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 ladies’s area, Sutume Kebede is the slight favorite because the reigning champion, although she can be examined closely in Tokyo.
Finally yr’s version, the Ethiopian gained by 19 seconds and clocked a private finest of two:15:55 in her victory.
Kebede can 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 checklist.
Former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei could possibly be nicely be Sebede’s largest menace and can 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 checklist over 26.2 miles respectively.
Gotytom Gebreslase might need a slower private finest (2:18:11) however, because the 2022 world marathon champion, is more likely to contend for the win as nicely.
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