Kipchoge takes aim at Tokyo

Eliud Kipchoge will aim for his fourth Abbott World Marathon Majors race title when he runs the Tokyo Marathon on March 6.

The double Olympic marathon champion has declared his intention to win all six AbbottWMM races, and has set his sights on the Japanese capital as his next target.

The 37-year-old Kenyan has won three BMW BERLIN-MARATHON titles, four TCS London Marathon crowns and also took out the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the first of his Majors victories.

This will be Kipchoge’s first appearance in Tokyo, having won the 2020 Tokyo Olympic title outside of the city – the race was staged in Sapporo.

Kipchoge will be accompanied by the women’s world record holder Brigid Kosgei, who will also make her bow in the race. Kosgei has won two London titles and two Chicago crowns, where she smashed the women’s mixed world record in 2019.

“I would like to thank the organisers of the Tokyo Marathon to make it possible for me and my colleague athletes to race in Tokyo,” said Kipchoge.

“My focus has been on Tokyo from the beginning of my training cycle, and I can say I am ready to race there. I am very excited to run in a country where running is a crucial part of the sport culture and looking forward to experience the Japanese excitement for running and the marathon in particular."

Kipchge will be challenged by 2019 and 2020 Tokyo champion Birhanu Legese, the world’s third fastest man over the marathon distance, (2:02:48), and the fourth-fastest man, Mosinet Geremew (2:02:55), both from Ethiopia.

In addition, marathon bronze medalist at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Amos Kipruto of Kenya, and marathon silver medalist at the 2017 championships, Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia will also feature. Both men hold a personal best time of sub-2:04.

Race director Tad Hayano said: “Since the postponement of the Tokyo Marathon 2021, I have been pondering what sort of race I want it to be, and how to shape the elite field.

"I have always aimed to create a world top-level race, and therefore, after thorough consideration, I have settled on creating a high-standard race. I am proud to present the men’s and women’s world record holders, along with a line of world’s top athletes never seen before in the history of the Tokyo Marathon."

Click here for the full elite field announcement.

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