Chepkirui Triumphs at Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2025

Sunday, 09 March 2025

The Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2025 unfolded under clear skies on Sunday, March 9, in Nagoya, Japan, showcasing a thrilling battle among some of the world's elite female marathoners. Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui, the reigning New York City Marathon champion, clinched an impressive victory with a winning time of 2:20:40. Japan's Sayaka Sato delivered an exceptional performance, securing second place in 2:20:59, significantly boosting her chances of representing Japan at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. Eunice Chebichii Chumba of Bahrain completed the podium, finishing third in 2:21:35.

The race began in ideal marathon conditions, with temperatures at a comfortable 9.8°C, humidity at 34.4%, and minimal wind at 0.7m/s. The lead group quickly formed, consisting of Chepkirui, Sato, Chumba, and Japan’s Rika Kaseda, crossing the halfway mark at a steady pace of 1:10:37. As the pacemakers departed at the 30 km mark, Chepkirui and Chumba increased the tempo, setting the stage for an intense showdown. Sato, showcasing her trademark resilience, initially fell behind but made a determined push between 35 and 36 km, overtaking Chumba to move into second place.

Chepkirui, maintaining her composure and pace, ultimately crossed the finish line in first place. In a jubilant post-race interview, she expressed gratitude and satisfaction, saying, "I’m so happy and want to thank God for good health and the energy. My strength comes from the training and a positive mind."

Sato’s relentless pursuit earned her a personal best and the ninth-fastest marathon time ever by a Japanese woman, enhancing her prospects of securing a spot on Japan's team for the World Championships. Reflecting on her performance, Sato shared, "I was determined to set a personal best, so I’m really happy. The training I’ve done gave me confidence in the tough moments."

Beyond the elite competition, the Nagoya Women’s Marathon also saw enthusiastic participation from 15,804 female runners from around the globe, all celebrating the world’s largest women’s marathon event. Each finisher received an exclusive crystal tumbler from the luxury French brand Baccarat, personally presented by tuxedo-clad volunteers, adding elegance to the achievement.

Complementing the marathon was a vibrant Marathon Expo, attracting over 100,000 visitors over three days. Highlighted events included the “GO RUNWAY × GO WOMEN” fashion show, blending the latest fashion and sportswear trends, and a captivating mini-concert featuring the popular singer hitomi, who performed the Japanese national anthem at the race's opening ceremony.

The race organizers expressed their appreciation, stating, “We are sincerely grateful to all the runners for their participation and to all the volunteers, staff, and citizens of Nagoya for their support. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we were able to hold the event once again without any major incidents.”