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 effectively adrift in 2:06:50. “That’s how it’s. Not every single 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, in fact, is whether or not the Kenyan athletics federation will nonetheless decide him to defend his Olympic title in Paris.
Kenyans swept the boys’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 shocking collapse. “I’m so pleased for the course document as we speak. It was quick sufficient for a document and I’m pleased about as we speak.”
Kipchoge mentioned: “I used to be match sufficient however one thing occurred in the course of the race. I feel 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 ladies’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 pleased, 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 pleased I’m about that.”
The second Benson Kipruto turned @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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