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The women’s title now remains in the country for the second time consecutively after Brigid Kosgei’s win last year.
The 2022 Berlin Marathon's first runner up Rosemary Wanjiru kicked off her World Marathon Majors in style by clinching the 2023 Tokyo Marathon.
Wanjiru put up a dominant show to cut the tape in 2:16:28, clocking a new personal best time in the highly contested race.
Ethiopian duo of Tsehay Gemechu and Ashete Bekere placed second and third in respective times of 2:16:56 and 2:19:11.
Passing through the five-kilometer mark, the leading pack consisted of seven women with Ethiopians dominating the race. Wanjiru was in the chasing pack. At the 15km mark, Wanjiru had joined the leading pack which was being led by Beatrice Cheserek of Kenya.
However, Wanjiru crossed the 25km mark in 1:21:07 looking poised. Gemechu was trying to keep up with Wanjiru as Bekere followed closely behind. Passing through the 38km mark, Wanjiru unleashed a finishing kick that saw her clinch the title.
The women’s title now remains in the country for the second time consecutively after Brigid Kosgei’s win last year.
The mens race was, however, a disappointing show from the Kenyans. The quartet of Amos Kurgat, Bernard Kimeli, Brimin Misoi and Ledama Kisaisa were leading the pack of athletes crossing the five-kilometer mark.
At the 15km mark, the Kenyans were still dominating the race with Kisaisa in the lead. Bernard Koech and Titus Kipruto were distant sixth and seventh.
Passing the 30km mark, Ethiopia’s Gelmisa Deso was leading the pack but the Kenyans were still looking good. Kimeli, Kurgat and Kipruto followed closely behind him.
Things changed at the 37km mark when Canada’s Camerons Levins went ahead of the pack but could not keep up as Deso overpowered him to cut the tape in 2:05:22. Ethiopian duo of Mohamed Esa and Tsegaye Getachew sealed the podium in respective times of 2:05:22 and 2:05:25. Kipruto finished fourth in 2:05:32.
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