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The Tokyo Marathon was a bitter outing for Eliud Kipchoge who went into the race as a favourite but he, unfortunately, missed out on a podium finish.
2022 Chicago Marathon champion Benson Kipruto was in a class of his own as he destroyed a strong marathon field that included marathon king Eliud Kipchoge to take top honours at the Tokyo Marathon.
Kipruto, the 2021 Boston Marathon champion stopped the clock at 2:02:16 as Kiplagat finished second in 2:02:55. Kipkemboi completed the podium in 2:04:18. Kipchoge finished 10th, clocking 2:06:50 to cross the finish line.
After the 5km mark, Kipchoge was running in the leading pack in fifth place and was looking entirely comfortable running behind Timothy Kiplagat.
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20:32 - 02.03.2024
ATHLETICS Sifan Hassan leaving nothing to chance as she trains along hotel corridors ahead of Tokyo Marathon showdown
Reigning London and Chicago Marathon champion Sifan Hassan took her preparations for Sunday’s Tokyo Marathon a notch higher by training on the corridors of her hotel.
Hillary Kipkoech was leading the pack at this point. As the pack moved to the 10km mark, Kipchoge was still running in fifth place with Kipkoech in the lead.
As the pack passed the 15km mark, Vincent Kipkemboi, running in his only but second marathon had climbed up to sixth-place and was comfortably running being Kipchoge. At this point, Kipkoech was still leading the pack.
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At the 20km mark, Kipchoge was being dropped and he was now running in sixth-place, with Sang Kiplagat having taken over his fifth place. Kipkoech was still going strong leading the strong pack of athletes.
Passing the 25km mark, the former world record holder had now taken back his position, running in fifth-place but the Kenyan duo of Patrick Mosin and Bethwel Kibet could not give him rest.
As the pack was passing the 30km mark, Kiplagat had taken charge and Benson Kipruto had risen to third place. Kipchoge was still running in fifth-place, now behind Japan’s Ogawa Ryotaro.
Passing the 35km mark, Kipruto had taken over the pack and was looking very comfortable leading. Meanwhile, Kipchoge, the five-time Berlin Marathon champion was struggling to keep up the pace and as the athletes passed the 38km mark, he had started being dropped.
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19:55 - 02.03.2024
ATHLETICS Eliud Kipchoge hoping for a great outing at Tokyo Marathon after recent stumble
Despite having a rough time from Kenyans' attacks on social media, Eliud Kipchoge is putting behind the negativity and anticipating to have a great run at the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday.
As the athletes passed the 40km mark, Kipruto was leading and he had now opened a huge gap between him and his closest challenger, Kiplagat. Kipchoge had been dropped and was nowhere to be seen among the top five runners in the deep field.
With the finish line in sight, Kipruto charged up to take top honours in his first-ever appearance in the streets of Tokyo. Kiplagat and Kipkemboi finished second and third respectively.
Meanwhile, the women's race saw defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru settle for second place behind Ethiopia's Sutume Kebede who clocked a course record time of 2:15:55. Amane Beriso finished third in 2:16:58 as Dutch woman Sifan Hassan finished fourth in 2:18:05.
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