Ethiopian athletes controlled the 13th Tokyo Marathon as they bagged the top positions in both men and women categories in a race held in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday, March 2, 2019.
Ethiopian veteran Birhanu Legese won in the men’s category after clocking 2:04:48 ahead of Kenyans Bedan Karoki and Dickson Chumba who clocked 2:06:48 and 2:08:44 respectively.
Kenya’s Simon Kariuki came fourth in the race after making it to the tape after two hours nine minutes and 41 seconds.
In the women’s category it was an Ethiopian showdown as they bagged the top three positions. Ruti Aga proved too hot for her competitors clocking 2:20:40 as her counterpart Helen Tola finished second clocking 2:21:01. Shure Demise followed Tola closely crossing the finishing line four seconds later.
Florence Kiplagat clocked 2:21:50 to grab the fourth position for the Kenyan side with her counterpart Joan Chelimo settling for the eighth position after two hours, 26 minutes and 54 seconds. Kenyan-born Bahrain long distance runner Rose Chelimo finished ninth in the race after clocking 2:30:35 with Kenyan Ruth Chebitok following closely in the 10th position clocking 2:31:19.
Ethiopian marathon debutant Mao Ichiyama settled for the seventh position in the women’s category after clocking 2:24:33. A record of 38,000 athletes participated in the race which was characterised by low temperatures due showers experienced in the Japan capital.