Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Africa dominated the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday, with the top four positions in both the men’s and women’s events taken by African runners.

Deso Gelmisa triumphed in the men’s race as Ethiopian runners took the first three places. Gelmisa finished in two hours, five minutes and 22 seconds. Mohamed Esa was a narrow second in an identical time and Tsegaye Getachew Kebede finished third three seconds back. 

Kenyan Titus Kipruto finished fourth ahead of Canada’s Cameron Levins and another Ethiopian, Deme Tadu Abate.

In the women’s race, Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru shut out three Ethiopians, winning in two hours, 16 minutes and 28 seconds.

Tsehay Gemechu came in second, 28 seconds behind the Kenyan, while Ashete Bekere was third and Worknesh Edesa fourth.

The Tokyo Marathon has been a major event on the Japanese sports calendar with marathon running one of the most popular sports in the country. After a hiatus due to COVID 19, the race was back to full capacity – 38,000 runners – for the first time in four years.

The marathon features a wheelchair event and many runners compete to raise money for charity.

Many runners opt to wear fancy dress while they run and thousands of people line the streets of Tokyo to watch the event, which was held in fine but slightly cool weather this year.