Ethiopians dominate big event in Japan as Paula Radcliffe clocks 2:57 aged 51 in her first marathon in a decade

Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia emerged as winners of the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday (March 2).

Takele ran a PB of 2:03:23 to beat fellow Ethiopian Deresa Geleta (2:03:51) and Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (2:04:00).

World 5000m and 10,000m record-holder Joshua Cheptegei finished ninth in 2:05:59 in his second marathon. Benson Kipruto, the 2024 Tokyo winner and Olympic bronze medallist, came sixth in 2:05:46.

"The weather wasn't a problem, it wasn't too hot and for me it was comfortable," Takele said on the sunny conditions during the race. "The course was good and this was a great day for me. In the future, I hope to run even better than I did today."

"I'm so grateful today that I came to Tokyo," Cheptegei said. "There are some good positives to take home and prepare for another step forward."

On the warm conditions, which reached 20C in the latter stages of the race, Cheptegei added: "I'm not complaining. I'm really satisfied with the result and it can be a build-up for next season."

In the women's race, Kebede successfully defended her title in 2:16:31 ahead of Winfridah Moraa Moseti of Kenya (2:16:56) and Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa (2:17:00).

Running her first marathon since she retired in 2015, Paula Radcliffe clocked 2:57:26. The former world record-holder ran 2:15:25 at her peak in 2003.

The 51-year-old now plans to run Boston in six weeks' time in order to complete all the World Marathon Majors.