Kipchoge loses Tokyo Marathon, finishes at position 10
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Eliud Kipchoge struggles as Benson Kipruto wins Tokyo Marathon setting a new course record and his personal best time
Eliud Kipchoge struggles as Benson Kipruto wins Tokyo Marathon setting a new course record and his personal best time
Kenya’s double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge said “not every day is Christmas” after his Paris Games preparations hit a snag with a 10th-place finish in Sunday’s Tokyo Marathon behind winner Benson Kipruto.
The 39-year-old Kipchoge faded badly at around the 20-kilometre (12-mile) mark and crossed the line in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 50 seconds.
Kipruto won in a course-record 2:02:16 ahead of countrymen Timothy Kiplagat (2:02:55) and Vincent Ngetich (2:04:18).
The race was taking place less than a month after world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum died after a tragic road accident.
Kipchoge will attempt to win his third straight Olympic marathon gold later this year and he said it was “too early to say” what shape he will be in at the Paris Games.
“That’s how it is — not every day is Christmas Day,” he told Nippon TV.
Kipchoge said “something happened in the middle of the race,” without elaborating.
He dropped back dramatically to leave Kiplagat, Kipruto and Ngetich fighting it out in the leading pack.
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Kipchoge continued to struggle as the race wore on and he had dropped out of the top 10 by the 35 km mark.
“I will go back, relax and start training,” he said.
Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede won the women’s race in 2:15:55 — also a course record.
Kenya’s defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru (2:16:14) was second ahead of Ethiopia’s world title-holder Amane Beriso Shankule (2:16:58).
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands was fourth after clocking 2:18:05.
Kiptum and Kipchoge were expected to face off for the first time at the Paris Olympics.
The Tokyo Marathon was Kipchoge’s first race since Kiptum’s death and he was on pace to reclaim the world record until he tumbled out of contention.
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