Birhanu Legese (marathon world rank: 55) and Ruti Aga (marathon world rank: 10) claimed the top spots at the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday (3), landing just the second Ethiopian double in the 13-year history of the IAAF Gold Label road race. The lead pack of 10 runners including Legese, Bedan Karoki (marathon world rank: 65), Dickson Chumba (marathon world rank: 13), Seifu Tura (marathon world rank: 26), Simon Kariuki, Yuki Sato, Shogo Nakamura (marathon world rank: 99) and Suguru Osako (marathon world rank: 22) passed the half way point in 1:02:01, faster than the pre-planned pace. Aga leads Ethiopian sweepThe women’s race also went out fast, covering five kilometres in 16:34, 10 kilometres in 33:04, and 15 kilometres in 49:25. Seven runners – Ababel Yeshaneh, Ruti Aga, Florence Kiplagat, Helen Tola (marathon world rank: 42), Shure Demisse (marathon world rank: 28), Yebrgual Melese (marathon world rank: 8) and Bedatu Hirpa (marathon world rank: 33) – passed the half-way point in 1:09:44, putting them on pace to break the course record. Joan Chelimo Melly, the fourth-fastest half marathon runner in history, was also making her marathon debut.

Source: Ethiopian News March 03, 2019 08:48 UTC