The 2025 Tokyo Marathon, held on March 2, 2025, delivered an exciting display of endurance and speed. Elite runners from around the world competed in the first race in the 2025 World Marathon Majors series. With favorable weather conditions and a fast course, the event saw remarkable performances in both the men’s and women’s elite divisions.
The men’s race was dominated by Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele. He surged ahead in the final kilometers to win in a personal best time of 2:03:23. Takele’s victory marked a significant milestone in his career, as he secured his first World Marathon Major title.
The race started at a fast pace, with a large lead pack remaining intact through the halfway mark. The group reached halfway in 1:01:31. However, just after the 30 km mark, the pace intensified as Takele, his compatriot Deresa Geleta, and Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich pulled away from the rest of the field.
With about 5 km remaining, Takele made a decisive surge, breaking away from Geleta and Ngetich to establish a lead. Despite strong headwinds in the closing stages, he maintained his rhythm and finished comfortably ahead, securing Ethiopia’s second consecutive men’s title in Tokyo.
Geleta, who finished second, ran an impressive race, staying close to Takele for most of the contest but ultimately falling behind in the final kilometers. Ngetich, known for his powerful finishing kick, tried to close the gap but had to settle for third.
Notably, defending champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya, who won in 2024, struggled to match the front runners’ pace and finished outside the podium in fifth place with a time of 2:04:33.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede successfully defended her title with a commanding victory in 2:16:31. Her performance reaffirmed her dominance in Tokyo, making her only the second woman to win back-to-back titles in the race’s history.
The race began at a fast pace, with the leading pack hitting the halfway point in 1:08:12. Kebede, Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti, and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa emerged as the key contenders, maintaining a relentless pace through 30 km.
Kebede made her decisive move at the 35 km mark, surging ahead with a smooth, controlled stride that left her rivals struggling to respond. She extended her lead in the final stretch and crossed the finish line comfortably ahead.
Moseti, making her Tokyo Marathon debut, impressed with a strong second-place finish, setting a personal best in the process. Meanwhile, Feysa, despite running shoulder-to-shoulder with Kebede for much of the race, lost momentum in the final stretch and had to settle for third place.
