Eliud Kipchoge set for gripping battle in crunch 2024 Tokyo Marathon

Experienced marathoner Eliud Kipchoge is set to open his 2024 calendar at the Tokyo Marathon slated for Sunday, March 3 in Japan.

Kipchoge, who held the world marathon record before it was recently broken by his compatriot Kelvin Kiptum, is expected to battle it out for the mouth-watering prize money with a host of other top runners particularly from the East African region.

According to the elite list that was released on January 30 by the organizers, Kipchoge will go head-to-head with the likes of the 2022 Chicago Marathon winner Benson Kipruto, Timothy Kiplagat and Vincent Ngetich Kipkemoi.

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The men’s field, which will see 11 sub-2:05 men, will be highlighted by Kipkemoi looking to pip the marathon specialist after finishing second to him in Berlin last year.

Kipruto will also be out to get another win over the double Olympic champion after crossing the line in third place at the 2023 Boston Marathon as Kipchoge finished sixth.

Others who will be in contention at the Abbot World Marathon Majors race include the Ethiopian trio of Chalu Deso, Tsegay Getachew, and Hailemaryam Kiros.

Race director Tadaaki Hayano has expressed confidence that the race will be one of the fastest this year.

“I think the race pace is likely to be set by the current course record. Kipchoge will lead the race from the start, with the 2 athletes in the 2:03 bracket hot on his heels, trying to keep him from an easy victory.

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Just as last time, when Kipchoge took charge as the pacemaker around the 26km mark, the battle for the pacemaker might begin before the 30km mark this time too. I am looking forward to seeing one of the highest paced races in Japan," part of his statement read.

2022 Telepass Milano Marathon winner Titus Kipruto is among the pacesetters for the race. The 25-year-old has a personal best of 2:04.54 and finished fourth in the 2023 edition of the event.

Besides the men's category, the women's entry list also has several brilliant runners including the reigning Chicago Marathon winner Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Kenya's Rosemary Wanjiru who is also the defending champion.

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Wanjiru clocked 2:16.28 to finish the race ahead of the Ethiopian duo of Tsehay Gemechu and Ashete Bekere.

Kenyan-born Israel runner Lonah Salpeter Chemtai, Tanzania's Magdalena Shauri and Ethiopia's Tigist Abayechew will also be in the mix.

Others include Amane Beriso, who has the second fastest personal best of 2:14.58 among the entries, Sutume Asefa, Yumi Yoshikawa and Buzunesh Getachew.

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