Kenyan double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge will take part in the Tokyo Marathon in March in readiness for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Dutch distance runner Sifan Hassan will attempt to maintain her unbeaten record in the marathon when she races in Tokyo for the first time on March 3. According to Kipchoge, who is the Tokyo course record-holder with 2:02:40 from 2022, and represents the NN Running Team, taking part in the Tokyo race will be a good boost as he prepares to go for his third Olympic marathon title in the French capital in August.
Kipchoge said on confirming his return to Tokyo: “I have good memories in Japan. I won my Olympic gold medal there and ran the course record in the Tokyo Marathon. Last time, I was grateful for the organisation to organise the event during such a difficult time during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“My aim was to set the course record and it was great to achieve that. I feel good working towards my next race in Tokyo. For me, it is the perfect preparation towards my aim to win my third consecutive Olympic title next summer in Paris.”
Kipchoge, who turned 39 in November, has been in great form recently with his fifth victory in the Berlin Marathon in September with a time of 2:02:42. Kenya have already named both men’s and women’s teams for the Paris Games with Kipchoge and world record holder Kelvin Kiptum headlining the men’s squad.
Apart from Kipchoge and Kiptum, others in the men’s list include Vincent Ngetich, who finished second at the Berlin Marathon this year, Rotterdam Marathon runners-up Timothy Kiplagat, former Chicago and Boston Marathon champion Benson Kipruto, Bernard Koech, two-time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, Cyprian Kotut, 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto and Titus Kipruto.
Meanwhile, Boston and New York Marathon champion Hellen Obiri will lead the women’s team alongside former world record holder Brigid Kosgei, ex-New York and London Marathon winner Peres Jepchirchir, Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru, and former world champion marathon Ruth Chepngetich. Others include former world half marathon record holder Joycilline Jepkosgei, Sheila Chepkirui, Judith Jeptum Korir, Selly Chepyego, and Sharon Lokedi, who won the New York Marathon last year before finishing third in November.