The 2025 Tokyo Marathon is just around the corner (March 2, mark your calendars!), and this yearโs elite field is stacked. With a roster boasting a number of former champions and some of the fastest marathoners on the planet, Tokyo 2025 promises to be nothing short of epic.
The women’s race will features fourth of the 10 fastest marathoners in history. The men’s race has three of the top performers ever, as well as Ugandan track great Joshua Cheptegei, who had a disappointing debut back in late 2023 in Valencia, but oozes with marathoning promise and is poised to give the distance another go.

Womenโs Field: The Best of the Best
The womenโs race is shaping up to be a true clash of champions. Weโve got the past three Tokyo winnersโEthiopiaโs Sutume Asefa Kebede, Kenyaโs Rosemary Wanjiru, and Brigid Kosgeiโback to battle it out on the streets of Japanโs bustling capital.
Brigid Kosgei, the 2022 Tokyo Marathon champion, is a name that needs little introduction for distance running fans. As the former world record holder, she clocked an astonishing 2:14:04 at the 2019 Chicago Marathonโa time that still stands as one of the fastest in history. Kosgei also took silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and sheโll be looking to reclaim her crown in Tokyo after finishing fifth in London last year.
Sutume Asefa Kebede, who shattered the Japanese all-comers’ record with a 2:15:55 victory at last yearโs Tokyo Marathon, is probably the runner to beat in the field. Kebede had a breakout year in 2024. Besides winning Tokyo, she set an American soil half marathon record in Houston, and also came second at the Chicago Marathon, keeping pace with eventual winner and world record holder Ruth Cheptngetich for the first section of the race.
Then thereโs Rosemary Wanjiru, last yearโs Tokyo runner-up with a blistering 2:16:14. She also clinched the top spot at the 2023 Tokyo Marathon and has a bronze medal in the 10,000m from the 2019 World Championships. With her track-to-road transition looking flawless, sheโs a strong favorite.
Joining them is Tigist Ketema, who stormed to victory at the 2024 Dubai Marathon and won the Berlin Marathon in the fall, with a career-best 2:16:07. Hawi Feysa, fresh off her Frankfurt Marathon win in 2:17:25, adds even more firepower. And letโs not forget Gotytom Gebreslase, the 2022 World Champion from Oregon, who boasts a PB of 2:18:11 and has proven herself time and again on the global stage.
Rising stars like Kenyaโs Winfridah Moraa Moseti (2:18:25 PB) and Japanโs Ai Hosoda, who narrowly missed the sub-2:20 barrier in Berlin, round out this incredible field. Tokyo could very well witness another record-breaking performance.

Menโs Field: Speed Demons Galore
The menโs race is equally electrifying, headlined by Benson Kipruto, the defending champion who set a jaw-dropping course record of 2:02:16 at last yearโs Tokyo Marathon. Kipruto, who also won the 2021 Boston Marathon, is one of the fastest and most consistent marathoners on the planet.
Heโll face stiff competition from Ethiopiaโs Derese Geleta, who clocked 2:02:38 in Valencia last year. Geleta is known for his tactical racing and has consistently finished at the top of elite fields, including a top-five finish at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, who placed third at the 2023 Berlin Marathon with a 2:03:13 PB, is another strong contender. Meanwhile, Ethiopiaโs Birhanu Legese, a two-time Tokyo Marathon champion, is back with his 2:02:48 PB, making him one of the fastest marathoners in history.
And hereโs where it gets really excitingโJoshua Cheptegei, the reigning world record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m, is making another attempt at the marathon distance. Although his debut in Valencia last year resulted in a modest 2:08:59, his track credentials suggest enormous potential for improvement, and he’s arguably the favorite in Tokyo.
Rounding out the field are newcomers like Benard Koech, the 10-mile world record holder and half marathon specialist (58:45 PB), and Japanโs Aoi Ota, a Hakone Ekiden star making his marathon debut. Add in elite Japanese athletes like Yohei Ikeda and Ichitaka Yamashita chasing Kengo Suzuki’s 2:04:56 national record in front of a home crowd, and this race promises fireworks.
2025 Tokyo Marathon Elite fields
Women’s Field
Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:04 (2022 Tokyo winner; fourth fastest all-time)
Sutume Kebede (ETH) 2:15:55 (2024 Tokyo Winner; eighth fastest all-time)
Tigist Ketema (ETH) 2:16:07 (ninth fastest all-time)
Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 2:16:14 (2023 Tokyo winner; 10th fastest all-time)
Hawi Feysa (ETH) 2:17:25
Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 2:17:56
Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 2:17:58
Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH) 2:18:11
Winfridah Moraa Moseti (KEN) 2:18:25
Mestawut Fikir (ETH) 2:18:48
Magdalyne Masai (KEN) 2:18:58
Ai Hosoda (JPN) 2:20:31
Desi Jisa Mokonin (BRN) 2:20:47
Yuka Ando (JPN) 2:21:18
Jessica Stenson (AUS) 2:24:01
Zhang Deshun (CHN) 2:24:05
Rie Kawauchi (JPN) 2:25:35
Kaori Morita (JPN) 2:26:31
Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh (MGL) 2:26:32
Shiho Kaneshige (JPN) 2:28:51
Men’s Field
Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:02:16 (2024 Tokyo Winner; sixth fastest all-time)
Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:02:38 (seventh fastest all-time)
Birhanu Legese (ETH) 2:02:48 (ninth fastest all-time)
Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (KEN) 2:03:13
Tadese Takele (ETH) 2:03:24
Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:03:48
Leul Gebresilase (ETH) 2:04:02
Stephen Kissa (UGA) 2:04:48
Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) 2:04:49
Amedework Walelegn (ETH) 2:04:50
Titus Kipruto (KEN) 2:04:54
Yohei Ikeda (JPN) 2:05:12
Suguru Osako (JPN) 2:05:29
Mulugeta Asefa Uma (ETH) 2:05:33
Ichitaka Yamashita (JPN) 2:05:51
Kenya Sonota (JPN) 2:05:59
Hiroto Inoue (JPN) 2:06:47
He Jie (CHN) 2:06:57
Vincent Raimoi (KEN) 2:07:01
Hendrik Pfeiffer (GER) 2:07:14
Akira Akasaki (JPN) 2:07:32
Suldan Hassan (SWE) 2:07:36
Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 2:08:59 (10,000m Olympic gold; 10,000m world record)
Benard Koech (KEN) Debut
Geoffrey Toroitich (KEN) Debut