Tadese Takele and Brigid Kosgei authored two completely different races to win the men’s and women’s elite titles at the 2026 Tokyo Marathon on Sunday.
While the duo took opposing routes to reach the winner’s circle in the Japanese capital, the result was the same in both races. Takele won the men’s race in a time of 2:03:37, while Kosgei claimed top honours in the women’s field with a time of 2:14:29.
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Takele, reigning champion in the men’s elite race, embraced a tactical approach. He remained hidden within the main pack of runners, as Japanese favourite Hashimoto Ryuichi set the early pace out front.
Ryuichi began to fade at the halfway point in the race, giving way to the lead pack over the next few kilometres. Around 36.5km into the race, the main pack splintered in a definitive move.
Kenyan standouts Alexander Mutiso Munyao, Geoffrey Toroitich and Daniel Mateiko moved free of the pack, along with Takele. Those four continued to mark each other as the kilometres ticked down, with Mutiso pushing the pace heading into the final kilometre.
It was at this point that Takele emerged from his tactical slumber, unleashing a mighty kick to claim his second-consecutive men’s title in Tokyo, becoming the first repeat winner since fellow countrymen Birhanu Legese in 2019 and 2020.
Toroitich reached the finish line hot on Takele’s heels, clocking 2:03:37 to beat out 2024 London Marathon champion Mutiso, who finished in 2:03:38.
2025 World Athletics Championships bronze medallist Iliass Aouani clocked 2:04:26 to finish sixth, ahead of Tokyo 2020 10000m champion Selemon Barega in seventh at 2:05:00.
Kosgei wears down the competition
Run at the same time as the men’s elite and mass participation races, the women’s elite contest played out as a race of attrition on Tokyo’s roads.
Tokyo 2020 marathon silver medallist Brigid Kosgei and back-to-back winner Sutume Asefa Kebede took centre stage in this battle of wits and fitness.
By the 30km mark, it was clear they were the only runners left in contention for the win. Running in a group of male athletes, they marked each other as the kilometres ticked down.
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But it wasn’t long before Kebede bowed out of the title fight, fading quickly out of the frame by the time they reached the 35km split, as Kosgei pushed a pace she couldn’t match.
Alone at the front with just over 7km left in the race, Kosgei maintained a rhythmic stride, increasing the distance between herself and those behind. She reached the finish line in a matter of minutes, claiming her second women’s elite title in Tokyo.
Fellow countrywoman Bertukan Welde was next across the line in a time of 2:16:36, followed by Hawi Feysa in 2:17:39. Kebede clocked 2:17:39 to finish fourth, falling short in her bid to become a three-time winner in Tokyo.
Hug and Debrunner triumph
It was a similar story of dominance for Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner, who won the men’s and women’s wheelchair races in commanding fashion.
Hug finished almost seven minutes ahead of runner-up Xingchuan Luo in the men’s race, while Debrunner enjoyed an almost four-minute gap over Great Britain’s Eden Rainbow Cooper in the women’s race.
