Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan went into the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday (March 3) because the big-name favourites to win, however they have been each humbled as Benson Kipruto and Sutume Asefa Kebede emerged winners.
Kipchoge was solely tenth and Hassan fourth as they each endured a tough day on the roads of Japan.
Kipruto stormed to a course document of two:02:16 with Kipchoge, 39, ending nicely adrift in 2:06:50. “That’s how it’s. Not day by day is Christmas Day,” he mentioned.
Kipchoge, who held the course document with 2:02:40 beforehand, started to wrestle from 20km onwards. By half-way, which the leaders reached in 60:20, Kipchoge was already dropped.
The massive query now, after all, is whether or not the Kenyan athletics federation will nonetheless choose him to defend his Olympic title in Paris.
Kenyans swept the lads’s podium, although, with Timothy Kiplagat runner-up in 2:02:55 and Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich third in 2:04:18.
“I don’t know what occurred to Kipchoge and I haven’t met him up till now,” Kipruto mentioned of Kipchoge’s stunning collapse. “I’m so joyful for the course document right this moment. It was quick sufficient for a document and I’m joyful about right this moment.”
Kipchoge mentioned: “I used to be match sufficient however one thing occurred in the midst of the race. I believe it’s early to say now (about Paris). I can return, calm down and begin coaching.”
Sutume Asefa Kebede (Getty)
Kebede additionally ran a course document with 2:15:55 as Hassan clocked 2:18:05 because the Dutch athlete misplaced her unbeaten document within the marathon after victories final yr in London and Chicago.
Rosemary Wanjiru was runner-up within the girls’s race in 2:16:14 with Amane Beriso Shankule third in 2:16:14 as American Betsy Saina ran 2:19:17 in fifth.
“I’m so joyful, I don’t actually have phrases for it,” mentioned Kebede. “It’s my first victory and I don’t have the phrases to precise how joyful I’m about that.”
The second Benson Kipruto grew to become @TokyoMarathon_E champion in an eye-watering 2:02:16. #AbbottWMM pic.twitter.com/oijymmCDCP
— Abbott WMMajors (@WMMajors) March 3, 2024
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