Ethiopians dominate huge occasion in Japan as Paula Radcliffe clocks 2:57 aged 51 in her first marathon in a decade
Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia emerged as winners of the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday (March 2).
Takele ran a PB of two:03:23 to beat fellow Ethiopian Deresa Geleta (2:03:51) and Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (2:04:00).
World 5000m and 10,000m record-holder Joshua Cheptegei completed ninth in 2:05:59 in his second marathon. Benson Kipruto, the 2024 Tokyo winner and Olympic bronze medallist, got here sixth in 2:05:46.
“The climate wasn’t an issue, it wasn’t too sizzling and for me it was comfy,” Takele stated on the sunny situations through the race. “The course was good and this was an ideal day for me. Sooner or later, I hope to run even higher than I did right now.”

Tadese Takele (Getty)
“I’m so grateful right now that I got here to Tokyo,” Cheptegei stated. “There are some good positives to take house and put together for one more step ahead.”
On the nice and cozy situations, which reached 20C within the latter levels of the race, Cheptegei added: “I’m not complaining. I’m actually glad with the outcome and it may be a build-up for subsequent season.”
Within the ladies’s race, Kebede efficiently defended her title in 2:16:31 forward of Winfridah Moraa Moseti of Kenya (2:16:56) and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa (2:17:00).

Sutume Asefa Kebede (Getty)
Operating her first marathon since she retired in 2015, Paula Radcliffe clocked 2:57:26. The previous world record-holder ran 2:15:25 at her peak in 2003.
The 51-year-old now plans to run Boston in six weeks’ time with a purpose to full all of the World Marathon Majors.
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