Tokyo Marathon 2024 Elite Field Preview

Thursday, 29 February 2024

The 2024 Tokyo Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, March 1, is making a triumphant return, featuring highly competitive fields with ten women boasting sub-2:20 times and eleven men with sub-2:05 credentials. Among the frontrunners are the 2023 victors, Rosemary Wanjiru and Chalu Deso Gelmisa, as well as world champions Amane Beriso Shankule and Victor Kiplangat. The star-studded lineup also includes the top-ranked Sifan Hassan and Eliud Kipchoge.

Notably, Hassan, despite being in the top five women, is making her debut in Tokyo. However, this lack of experience is unlikely to be a significant hindrance. Amane, the gold medalist in Budapest, poses a strong challenge on paper, but the potential for an intense late-race showdown involving Hassan, Amane, and Wanjiru adds an extra layer of excitement, especially considering Wanjiru's sixth-place finish in Budapest.

In the men's category, Kipchoge, the 2022 Tokyo Marathon champion with a course record of 2:02:40, returns to the event as his first marathon since losing the world record. Tokyo seems to be a secure ground for him to regroup and pursue another victory in the World Abbott Marathon Majors. Despite the loss of his record, his 2:02:42 triumph in Berlin still outshines the accomplishments of others in the field. A rematch with Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, who finished 31 seconds behind him in Berlin, adds an intriguing element to the race. Additionally, Timothy Kiplagat, the Rotterdam runner-up with a time under 2:04, and Benson Kipruto, who secured second place in Chicago with a time of 2:04:02, contribute to the highly competitive field.

The depth of talent at the front end is highlighted by the fact that the defending champion, Chalu, currently ranks as the ninth-fastest competitor in the race. The 2024 Tokyo Marathon promises an exhilarating display of athleticism and fierce competition.

MEN ELITE | Download Full Men's Elite Field

1. KIPCHOGE, Eliud - KEN - 2:01:09
2. NGETICH, Vincent Kipkemoi - KEN - 2:03:13
3. KIPLAGAT, Timothy - KEN - 2:03:50
4. KIPRUTO, Benson - KEN - 2 2023
5. KIROS, Hailemaryam - ETH - 2:04:41
6. BELAY, Andualem - ETH - 2:04:44
7. GETACHEW, Tsegaye - ETH - 2:04:49
8. DESO, Chalu - ETH - 2:04:53
9. KIPLANGAT, Victor - UGA - 2:05:09
10. SUZUKI, Kengo - 2:04:56
11. YAMASHITA, Ichitaka - 2:05:51
12. SONOTA, Kenya - 2:05:59
13. HOSOYA, Kyohei - 2:06:35
14. NISHIYAMA, Kazuya - 2:06:45
15. IKEDA, Yohei - 2:06:53
16. KIBET, Bethwel - KEN - 2:04:37
17. ASMARE, Bazezew - ETH - 2:04:57
18. ALAME, Haimro - ISR - 2:06:04
19. KAROKI, Bedan - 2:06:15
20. OGURA, Yusuke - 2:06:51
21. SADAKATA, Toshiki - 2:07:05
22. MICHAEL, Githae - 2:07:08
23. DAIROKUNO, Shuho - 2:07:12
24. KARIUKI, Simon - 2:07:18
25. KIKUCHI, Masato - 2:07:20

WOMEN ELITE | Download Full Women's Elite Field

1. HASSAN, Sifan - NED - 2:13:44
2. SHANKULE, Amane Beriso - ETH - 2:14:58
3. WANJIRU, Rosemary - KEN - 2:16:28
4. SALPETER, Lonah Chemtai - ISR - 2:17:45
5. ABAYECHEW, Tigist - ETH - 2:18:03
6. KEBEDE, Sutume Asefa - ETH - 2:18:12
7. SHAURI, Magdalena - TZA - 2:18:41
8. GETACHEW, Buzunesh - ETH - 2:19:27
9. ABEBAYAHAU, Meseret - ETH - 2:19:50
10. NIIYA, Hitomi - 2:19:24
11. YOSHIKAWA, Yumi - 2:25:20
12. GALBADRAKH, Khishigsaikhan - MNG - 2:28:33
13. KANESHIGE, Shiho - 2:29:26
14. HORIE, Misato - 2:32:10
15. IKEMOTO, Ai - 2:34:17
16. FUJISAWA, Mai - 2:35:52
17. MORITA, Ayumi - 2:36:59
18. MATUMURA, Yukie - 2:37:24
19. OI, Chizuru - 2:38:05
20. NAKATA, Miho - 2:39:51