Kenya’s revered long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge faced a setback in his preparations for the Paris Games as he finished 10th at the Tokyo Marathon behind winner Benson Kipruto, prompting him to reflect that “not every day is Christmas.”
The 39-year-old Kipchoge experienced a notable decline around the 20-kilometer mark, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 50 seconds. Meanwhile, Kipruto clinched victory in a remarkable course-record time of 2:02:16, leading a trio of Kenyan runners, including Timothy Kiplagat (2:02:55) and Vincent Ngetich (2:04:18), to the podium.
The Tokyo Marathon took place amidst somber circumstances, occurring less than a month after the tragic death of world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum in a car accident in Kenya.
Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics, where he aims to secure his third consecutive marathon gold, Kipchoge remained pragmatic about his form, stating that it was “too early to say.” Reflecting on his performance, he noted that “something happened in the middle of the race,” without providing further details.
As Kipchoge struggled to maintain his pace, ultimately dropping out of the top 10 by the 35-kilometer mark, he expressed his intention to regroup and focus on his training.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede emerged victorious with a time of 2:15:55, followed closely by Kenya’s defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru (2:16:14) and Ethiopia’s world champion Amane Beriso Shankule (2:16:58). Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands secured fourth place, clocking 2:18:05.
The Tokyo Marathon marked Kipchoge’s return to racing since Kiptum’s untimely passing, with hopes of reclaiming the world record dashed as he fell out of contention during the event.
Kipruto’s stellar performance, seizing the lead around the 30-kilometer mark and surging towards victory, underscored the competitive spirit of the race.
The tragic loss of Kiptum, a rising star in the distance running scene, cast a somber shadow over the marathon. Kiptum’s untimely demise occurred while driving in Kenya’s Rift Valley, a region renowned for producing elite distance runners, highlighting the unpredictable nature of life.
