The 2025 Tokyo Marathon will bring together some of the world’s top marathoners, with an elite field featuring past champions, Olympic medalists, and rising stars.
Scheduled to take place on March 2, 2025, the flat and fast course, combined with typically cool race conditions, makes Tokyo a prime venue for record-breaking attempts and competitive battles.
This year’s edition is particularly exciting due to the strong mix of experienced champions and emerging talent in both the men’s and women’s fields. Several former winners are returning to reclaim their titles, while a number of debutants and younger runners are looking to make their mark.
On the men’s side, Benson Kipruto, the defending Tokyo Marathon champion and a Boston and Chicago Marathon winner, is set to lead the charge. He’ll be up against Birhanu Legese, a two-time Tokyo winner, and Vincent Kipkemoi, who made an impressive debut in 2023. Olympic champion and world record holder Joshua Cheptegei is also stepping up for another marathon appearance, adding intrigue to the competition.
The women’s field is equally packed with talent. Brigid Kosgei, the former world record holder, is aiming for another big win. Sutume Kebede, who set a Japanese all-comers’ record in 2024, is back to improve on her performance. Tigist Ketema, one of the fastest marathon debutants in history, is expected to be a major contender, and Rosemary Wanjiru, the 2023 Tokyo Marathon champion, will also be in the hunt for victory.
With multiple runners in both fields holding personal bests under 2:04 for men and 2:17 for women, this year’s race has the potential to produce one of the fastest marathons in history. The Tokyo Marathon’s position as a major spring marathon means it will play a key role in shaping the 2025 racing season, with implications for the Paris Olympics and the rest of the World Marathon Majors series.
Who To Watch: Elite Men’s Field
Benson Kipruto 🇰🇪
Personal Best: 2:02:16
Kipruto won the 2021 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:09:51 and the 2022 Chicago Marathon, setting a personal best of 2:04:24. In 2024, Kipruto set a course record at the Tokyo Marathon, finishing in 2:02:16. He also secured third-place finishes at the Boston Marathon in 2022 and 2023, with times of 2:07:27 and 2:06:06, respectively. At the 2023 Chicago Marathon, he finished second with a time of 2:04:02. Additionally, Kipruto earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, completing the marathon in 2:07:00.
Deresa Geleta 🇪🇹
Personal Best: 2:03:27
Geleta won the 2022 Lagos City Marathon and the 2023 Beijing Marathon. In 2024, Geleta set a personal best and course record of 2:03:27 at the Seville Marathon, ranking him among the top marathoners globally. This performance qualified him for the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he finished 5th in the men’s marathon with a time of 2:07:31.
Birhanu Legese 🇪🇹
Personal Best: 2:02:48
Legese is a two-time winner of the Tokyo Marathon, claiming victories in 2019 and 2020 with times of 2:04:48 and 2:04:15, respectively. Legese achieved a personal best of 2:02:48 at the 2019 Berlin Marathon, placing second and becoming one of the fastest marathoners in history. He also secured third place at the 2020 Valencia Marathon with a time of 2:03:16 and finished fourth at the 2023 Amsterdam Marathon, clocking 2:04:43. In addition to his marathon successes, Legese has notable half marathon victories, including wins at the 2015 Berlin Half Marathon (59:45) and the 2015 Delhi Half Marathon (59:20).
Vincent Kipkemoi 🇰🇪
Personal Best: 2:03:13
Kipkemoi won the 2022 Madrid Half Marathon with a time of 1:01:05 and the 2023 10km de Port-Gentil, finishing in 28:11. In his marathon debut at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, Ngetich placed second with a time of 2:03:13, just 31 seconds behind Eliud Kipchoge. He also secured a third-place finish at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon with a time of 2:04:18.
Tadese Takele 🇪🇹
Personal Best: 2:03:24
Takele hasn’t been around the marathon for long, but he had a remarkable marathon debut at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, finishing third with a time of 2:03:24. This performance places him among the fastest debut marathon runners in history.
Dawit Wolde 🇪🇹
Personal Best: 2:03:48
Wolde ran a personal best of 2:03:48 at the 2023 Valencia Marathon, securing third place. He also finished third at the 2021 Rotterdam Marathon with a time of 2:04:27.
Joshua Cheptegei 🇺🇬
Personal Best: 2:08:59
Ugandan athlete Joshua Cheptegei is renowned for his achievements on the track and has recently transitioned to road racing. He holds world records in both the 5000m and 10,000m events. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Cheptegei secured a gold medal in the 5000m and a silver in the 10,000m. He is also a three-time World Champion in the 10,000m (2019, 2022, 2023). Cheptegei made his marathon debut at the 2023 Valencia Marathon, finishing with a time of 2:08:59.
Who To Watch: Elite Women’s Field
Brigid Kosgei 🇰🇪
Personal Best: 2:14:04
Brigid Kosgei, a Kenyan long-distance runner, has an impressive marathon career. She won the 2018 and 2019 Chicago Marathons, setting a world record time of 2:14:04 in the latter. Kosgei also claimed titles at the London Marathon in 2019 and 2020. In 2021, she earned a silver medal in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics. She continued her success by winning the 2022 Tokyo Marathon with a time of 2:16:20 and set a course record at the 2024 ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon, finishing in 2:19:15.
Sutume Kebede 🇪🇹
Personal Best: 2:15:55
Sutume Asefa Kebede, an Ethiopian long-distance runner, has achieved notable success in her career. In January 2024, she won the Houston Half Marathon, setting a North American all-comers’ record with a time of 1:04:37. She continued her impressive performance by winning the Tokyo Marathon in March 2024, recording a personal best of 2:15:55. Later that year, in October, Kebede secured a second-place finish at the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:17:32. In December 2024, she defended her title at the Kolkata 25K, finishing the race in 1:19:21.
Tigist Ketema 🇪🇹
Personal Best: 2:16:07
Ketema made a remarkable debut at the Dubai Marathon in January 2024, winning the race with a time of 2:16:07, which stands as the fastest debut marathon by a woman. In September 2024, Ketema continued her winning streak by clinching the title at the Berlin Marathon, completing the race in 2:16:42.
Rosemary Wanjiru 🇰🇪
Personal Best: 2:16:28
Wanjiru has demonstrated consistent excellence in marathon events. She made a strong debut at the Berlin Marathon in 2022, finishing second with a time of 2:18:00. Wanjiru improved her performance at the Tokyo Marathon in March 2023, winning the race and setting a personal best of 2:16:28. She returned to Tokyo in 2024, securing a second-place finish with a time of 2:16:14.
The 2025 Tokyo Marathon is set to be a highly competitive race with a deep elite field and fast conditions that could lead to record-breaking performances. With past champions, rising stars, and debutants all in the mix, the race will be a key event in shaping the marathon season. Whether it’s a tactical battle, a breakthrough performance, or a historic time, this year’s edition promises to deliver excitement and set the stage for the rest of the World Marathon Majors calendar.
