The Abbott World Marathon Majors season has officially burst into life with the electric streets of Tokyo setting the tone for another year of world-class racing. As the spotlight shifts across the global marathon calendar, anticipation is building closer to home, too.

In May, Cape Town steps onto the world stage with its own high-stakes showdown – a pivotal moment in its bid to earn Abbott World Marathon Major status and join one of the most prestigious series in distance running.

Brigid Kosgei sets course record in 2:14:28.

Just under 40 000 athletes competed at the Tokyo Marathon this past Sunday 1 March, with Brigid Kosgei and Tadese Takele taking the victories. The day started with 10 degrees Celsius – perfect running weather, and peaked at 15 degrees Celcius by the end of the elite race, with mild winds throughout.

Here are some of the highlights from the race.

Brigid Kosgei sets course record in 2:14:28
It took over 32 kilometres for 32-year-old Brigid Kosgei of Kenya to pull away from two-time defending Tokyo champion Sutume Kebede of Ethiopia, who also owns the top two fastest times in event history. But that’s no longer the case, as Kosgei’s winning time of 2:14:29 shattered Kebede’s course record of 2:15:55 set in 2024 and nearly broke her own personal best of 2:14:04, which established a new women’s-only world record in 2019.

In denying Kebede a record third straight victory, Kosgei joins her as one of just three women to win the race twice. Kebede faded to fourth in 2:17:39, just edged out for third by reigning Chicago Marathon champion Hawi Feysa. Fellow countrywoman Bertukan Welde set a one-minute personal best of 2:16:36 for runner-up honours.

Kosgei, once considered one of the top marathoners in the world, looks to be again at the top of her game after struggling with injuries for the past several years. Her World Marathon Major record now includes six victories: the 2018 and 2019 Chicago Marathons, the 2019 and 2020 London Marathons, and the 2021 and 2026 Tokyo Marathons.

Tadese Takele defends title in thrilling three-way sprint finish
Tadese Takele of Ethiopia defended his title at the 2026 Tokyo Marathon in an incredible three-way sprint finish with Kenyans Geoffrey Toroitich and Alexander Mutiso, as both Takele and Toroitich clocked 2:03:37 and Mutiso recorded a final time of 2:03:38 for third. Fellow Kenyan Daniel Mateiko made it four men under 2:04 with his 2:03:44 performance.

All four men were still together with 1 200 metres to go, weaving at top speed through the crowded streets of Tokyo. The 23-year-old Takele found redemption in the city, retaining his individual title (just 10 seconds off his winning time last year) after recording a DNF in the humid conditions at the World Championships marathon in Tokyo last September.

Sunday’s race featured the second near-miss in a row for Mutiso, who was nipped at the line by Benson Kipruto for victory at the New York City Marathon last fall. Meanwhile, Toroitich’s runner-up finish was a breakout moment for the new marathoner, whose debut in the distance last year in Tokyo resulted in a sixth-place finish in 2:05:46 and who went on to set a course record at the Amsterdam Marathon in 2:03:31.

The standout performances went down the list as Muktar Edris of Ethiopia, a two-time 5K world champion on the track, improved his personal best by nearly two minutes to run 2:04:06 for fifth place. Iliass Aouani of Italy set a new national record in 2:04:26, continuing his hot streak since earning bronze in this city at the World Championships last summer.

The top group of men did not take the lead until the final 12 kilometres of the race, as Japan’s Ryuichi Hashimoto attempted to go wire-to-wire in a gutsy solo effort that felt reminiscent of countryman Yuki Kawauchi’s famous 2018 Boston Marathon win. Hashimoto was accompanied by a pacemaker through 10K, before blitzing the streets with an opening half marathon of 1:01:29, then fading hard with a 1:09:52 back half. He ultimately finished 39th in 2:11:21.

Next up in the Series is Boston on 20 April, with the London Marathon taking place on 26 April.

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