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.
Start your running journey today!
No spam. Cancel anytime.
