Ethiopian Dominance: Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede Triumph at 2025 Tokyo Marathon
The 2025 Tokyo Marathon set the stage for another exhilarating start to the World Marathon Majors on Sunday, with over 30,000 runners navigating the streets of Japan’s capital. In a thrilling display of endurance and strategy, Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele and Sutume Asefa Kebede emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s elite races, respectively, securing an Ethiopian double in the prestigious event.
Takele Claims First Major Victory
Tadese Takele delivered a commanding performance in the men’s race, breaking the tape in 2:02:23, a new personal best and the world’s fastest time so far this year. The 22-year-old Ethiopian, a former steeplechaser who competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, made his decisive move in the final 5K, dropping compatriot Deresa Geleta (2:03:51) and Kenya’s Vincent Ngetich (2:04:00) to secure his first major marathon win.
The race began at an aggressive pace, with the lead pack of ten runners hitting the 5K mark in 14:23. Defending champion Benson Kipruto, who had hoped to retain his title, struggled to keep up and eventually faded to finish sixth in 2:05:46. Meanwhile, Joshua Cheptegei, the world record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m, ran a controlled race in just his second marathon attempt, finishing ninth in a personal best 2:05:59—a three-minute improvement from his marathon debut in Valencia.
At 38K, Takele made his winning move, accelerating past Ngetich, who was the first to fall off pace, followed shortly by Geleta. Once in the lead, Takele was never threatened, powering through the final kilometers unchallenged. Reflecting on his performance, Takele said, “I had prepared well, but the result was even better than expected. I told myself that I must go for the win.”
Top Results Men
1.Tadese Takele (ETH) 2:03:23
2. Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:03:51
3. Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (KEN) 2:04:00
4. Titus Kipruto (KEN) 2:05:34
5. Mulugeta Asefa Uma (ETH) 2:05:46
6. Geoffrey Toroitich (KEN) 2:05:46
7. Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:05:46
8. Suldan Hassan (SWE) 2:05:57
9. Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 2:05:59
10. Tsubasa Ichiyama (JPN) 2:06:00
Kebede Retains Women’s Title in Dominant Fashion
In the women’s race, Sutume Asefa Kebede successfully defended her title, winning in 2:16:31. The Ethiopian star led from the gun, separating herself early and establishing a nearly two-minute gap by the 25K mark. However, her lead began to dwindle in the final miles as Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti closed the gap with a strong finish to take second in a personal best 2:16:56. Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa rounded out the podium in 2:17:00.
Unlike last year’s dramatic victory, where Kebede surged in the final two kilometers to set a course record (2:15:55), this time she relied on front-running tactics. She started aggressively, passing 10K in 31:22 and the halfway mark in 1:06:20, initially pacing towards a 2:12 marathon. However, the second half proved tougher as she slowed, allowing Moseti and Feysa to close in.
Moseti, who won the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon last year, ran a well-paced race, covering the second half significantly faster than Kebede. By 40K, she was within striking distance but ultimately fell 25 seconds short.
Top results Women
1. Sutume Kebede (ETH) 2:16:31
2. Winfridah Moraa Moseti (KEN) 2:16:56
3. Hawi Feysa (ETH) 2:17:00
4. Magdalyne Masai (KEN) 2:19:28
5. Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 2:19:57
6. Desi Jisa Mokonin (BRN) 2:20:07
7. Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH) 2:20:25
8. Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 2:20:26
9. Zhang Deshun (CHN) 2:20:53
10. Jessica Stenson (AUS) 2:22:56
Tough Conditions and Notable Performances
The Tokyo Marathon started in near-perfect conditions, but temperatures climbed above 20°C (68°F) as the race progressed, making the latter stages more grueling. Several top athletes, including Kipruto and Cheptegei, struggled with the unexpected heat.
In addition to the elite finishes, legendary former world record holder Paula Radcliffe made her return to competitive marathon running, finishing in 2:57:26—her first marathon in a decade. The 51-year-old is now set to complete the Six Star challenge in Boston in six weeks.
Looking Ahead
For Takele, this victory marks a breakthrough moment in his career, proving his transition from the track to road racing is complete. “The weather didn’t affect me much; I didn’t think it was that hot. It’s a good course, and I hope to run even better in the future. I want to run faster and win the Olympics one day,” he said post-race.
Kebede, already a proven contender on the world stage, cemented her status as one of the top female marathoners with back-to-back Tokyo wins. With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, both Takele and Kebede have positioned themselves as serious medal contenders for Ethiopia.
As the first World Marathon Major of the year, the Tokyo Marathon has once again set the tone for an exciting season ahead, with elite runners now shifting their focus to the upcoming spring races, including Boston and London. For now, Ethiopia celebrates a clean sweep in Tokyo, a testament to the country’s continued dominance in distance running.
