Download our Free 8-Week Plan here →
News

Kosgei Storms to Course Record as Tokyo Marathon Delivers Fastest Day in Its History

March 2, 2026
By
Anna F.

Brigid Kosgei stormed back to Tokyo with a 2:14:29 victory and new course record, winning by over two minutes. Tadese Takele retained the men’s title in a sprint, as Iliass Aouani broke Italy’s record.

​Brigid Kosgei returned to Tokyo and rewrote the record books. The Kenyan star claimed victory at the 2026 Tokyo Marathon in 2:14:29, setting a new course record and finishing more than two minutes clear of the field.

​Kosgei, 32, crossed the line well ahead of Ethiopia’s Bertukan Welde, who took second in 2:16:36, while Hawi Feysa secured third in 2:17:39. The previous course record of 2:15:55 had stood since 2024. Kosgei, who also won in Tokyo in 2021, delivered a controlled and decisive performance on a course she knows well.

​After the race, she confirmed her long term ambition to represent Turkey at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

​“We have a lot of athletes in Kenya,” Kosgei said. “I want some young generation to follow my step to join me in Turkey.”

​The men’s race proved equally dramatic. Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele defended his title in 2:03:37 after a sprint finish against Kenya’s Geoffrey Toroitich, who was credited with the same official time.

Alexander Mutiso Munyao followed one second later in third.

​Further back, reigning European champion Iliass Aouani finished sixth in 2:04:26, breaking the Italian national record by nearly a minute despite battling cramps in the closing kilometers.

You Might Also Like

Runner Completes 5K Inside Airplane Bathroom, Sparks Backlash Over In-Flight Etiquette

Harry Styles Says Running Is About Presence, Not Pace, as He Quietly Breaks Three-Hour Marathon Mark

Harry Styles isn’t chasing splits or personal bests. In a podcast clip, he frames running like performance: a meditative rhythm where focus sharpens, distractions drop away, and presence becomes the point—yet his marathon results still speak volumes.

Verdeliss Completes 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge

Spanish athlete and creator Verdeliss takes endurance to the extreme with Decathlon’s Reto 24h Running running nonstop for 24 hours on a treadmill in Madrid to debut the new Kiprun Kipride Max, the brand’s most cushioned daily trainer.

Wrong Turn, Lost Title: US Half Marathon Championship Ended in Chaos After Leaders Sent Off Course

Atlanta’s 2026 US Half Marathon Championship erupted into controversy after a lead vehicle misdirected the women’s front-runners off course with under two miles remaining, flipping the race and locking in results USA Track and Field says it can’t change.

Record-Breaking Tel Aviv Marathon Sees Over 50,000 Runners, Dozens Treated for Heatstroke

Record-breaking crowds turned out for the Tel Aviv Marathon, with more than 50,000 runners hitting the streets on Friday. But the heat took a toll, sending dozens for medical care, including several in critical condition treated for heatstroke.

Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 Returns With Lighter Build, Revamped GPS and 14-Day Battery

Huawei’s Watch GT Runner 2 targets Garmin’s mid-range with a 34.5g titanium build, new dual-band GPS, and serious training tools like running power and lactate threshold plus up to 14-day battery life at £349.99, launching 26 February 2026.