Benson Kipruto sets a new record by winning the Tokyo Marathon as Eliud Kipchoge struggles to pace himself

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Kenyan Benson Kipruto won the men's Tokyo Marathon in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds on Sunday, surpassing former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge's course mark in perfect racing conditions on the streets of the Japanese capital.

Ethiopia's Sutume Asefa Kebede won the women's race ahead of Kenya's defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru in 2:15:55, improving the women's previous best time on the route from Shinjuku to the Imperial Palace.

Kipruto pulled away from Timothy Kiplagat in the final kilometers and finished 39 seconds ahead of his compatriot. He added the title in Tokyo to the titles he won in Boston in 2021 and Chicago in 2022.

The 32-year-old's time was almost two minutes better than his previous personal best and made him the fifth-fastest marathon runner of all time in World Athletics-sanctioned events.

“I am very happy about the course record,” Kipruto told reporters.

“I think I'm ready for the Paris Olympics. I would like to represent my country in Paris, but that depends on my country's selection. I’m still waiting for that, but I’m ready.”

Kiplagat had to be convinced by his coach not to drop out of the race after his training partner, marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, died in a road accident last month.

Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich finished third in 2:04:18, giving Kenya a podium finish.

Kipchoge struggled with pacing halfway through the course record time of 2:02:40 he set in 2022, and the double Olympic champion had fallen two minutes behind the leaders at the 30km mark. He finished 10th.

Kebede and Wanjiru had been in the lead group throughout the women's race, but at the 37km mark the Ethiopian increased her pace, pulling away from her rivals and taking her first major marathon title by 19 seconds.

Her time beat Brigid Kosgei's 2022 course record of 2:16:02 and shaved more than two minutes off her previous personal best of 2:18:12.

“I’m really happy,” said the 29-year-old. “It was a very tactical race. Everything went well and the result was better than I expected.

“I ran a good time in a big race and I hope the Ethiopian Athletics Federation will select me for the Paris Olympics. I want to win (gold) and break the Olympic record.”

Kebede's compatriot Amane Beriso finished third in 2:16:58, more than a minute ahead of Dutch Olympic track and field champion Sifan Hassan in fourth place.

Ichitaka Yamashita was the fastest Japanese man with a time of 2:06:31 to finish ninth, while Hitomi Niiya secured local honors in the women's race with a sixth place finish of 2:21:50.