Takele defends his Tokyo Marathon title in sprint finishAFP, TOKYOEthiopia’s Tadese Takele yesterday defended his Tokyo Marathon title, edging Kenya’s Geoffrey Toroitich in a sprint finish to cross the line in 2 hours, 3 minutes, 37 seconds. “Around 41km I wanted to wait and see what would happen and then I made my move right before the finish.”Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele finishes first in the men’s category of the Tokyo Marathon yesterday. In warm, dry conditions in the Japanese capital, a men’s leading pack including Takele, Toroitich, Mutiso and Kenya’s Daniel Mateiko broke away around the 37km mark. Takele made a late move and managed to stay in front despite a last-gasp challenge from Toroitich. Kosgei, the Tokyo Marathon champion and Olympic silver medalist in 2021, has said she would compete for Turkey at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Source: Taipei Times March 01, 2026 17:12 UTC