2024 Tokyo Marathon
While Cebu City was making running history with a record 13,000 runners in the SM2SM Run 12, another big event was unfolding in Japan, the Tokyo Marathon that drew 37,000 runners. The Kenyans led by eventual champion Benson Kipruto occupied the first three places with Kipruto clocking 2:02:16. Timothy Kiplagat, world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum’s training partner. was second in 2:02:55, while Vincent Ngetich came in third in 2:04:18. Kipruto, the 2022 Chicago Marathon champion, shattered Eliud Kipchoge’s course record of 2:02:40 set two years ago. Ethiopians occupied the next two spots with Hailemaryan Kiros and Tsegaye Gatechew wound up fourth and fifth in 2:05:43 and 2:06 :25, respectively. Betwel Kibet of Kenya pocketed sixth in 2:06:26, while Israel’s Alame Haimko was seventh in 2:06:27. Kenyan Simeon Kakiuki settled for eighth in 2:02:29 with Japanese Nishiyama Yusuke coming in ninth in 2:06:31. Former world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge was a dismal 10th placer in 2:06:50, his first loss this year after slowing down at the 20K mark.
Women’s division
In the distaff side, Akebede Asefa established a new course record when she won in 2:15:55. She broke Kenyan Brigid Kosgei’s mark of 2:16:12. Defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru finished second in 2:16:14, while Amane Berisa of Ethiopia took third in 2:16:58. The Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan won fourth place in 2:18:05 with American Betsy Saina finishing fifth in 2:19:17. The rest of the top ten are 6th Niiya Hitomi (Japan- 2:21:50), 7th Meseka Abebayaham (Ethiopia- 2:23:08), 8th Khishigsakihan Galbadrakh (MGL- 2:26:32), 9th Tigist Abayeyechew (Ethiopia 2:28:53), and 10th Ayuki Morita (Japan-2:321:38).
NOTES: Congratulations to our very own Cebuano Mikaela Mancao, daughter of Dr. Peter Mancao , who finished this year’s Tokyo Marathon In 4:14:00. It was her 12th marathon. A “chip of the old block” indeed! Meanwhile, the Liberation of Panay 53K Ultramarathon and 28K Run fires off on March 17 at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
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