Brigid Kosgei, Rosemary Wanjiru headline rich Tokyo Marathon field

Kenya’ former world record holder Brigid Kosgei will be among four Kenyans who have officially been announced for this year’s Tokyo Marathon on 2 March.

In a field that consists of six women who have dipped under 2:18 and also features a total of 11 sub-2:20 runners, Kosgei comes in as one of three previous winners going for the crown.

Other winners include: Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede, who set a Japanese all-comers' record of 2:15:55 when winning in Tokyo last year, Rosemary Wanjiru, the winner of the 2023 edition, and Kosgei, who won in 2022.

Kosgei’s recent participation in a marathon was in London last year, where she finished fifth in a time of 2:19:02.

Wanjiru meanwhile placed third in her recent visit to Thailand for the Bangsaen Half Marathon in December, clocking 1:10:53.

Other Kenyans announced in the rich field are Winfridah Moraa Moseti, who won the aforementioned Bangsaen Half Marathon in a time of 1:10:01 last year.

Winfridah Moseti claims Bangsaen half marathon victory as Munyao settles for second

The 28-year-old also finished third at the Amsterdam Marathon in October, while placing second in Hamburg six months earlier.

The other Kenyan in Magdalene Masai, who recently timed 2:18:58 in a second-placed finish at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon.

Other contenders in the race include Hawi Feysa, who won in Frankfurt in October in 2:17:25, 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebreslase, and 2021 London Marathon runner-up Degitu Azimeraw.

Elite field

Women

Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:04

Sutume Kebede (ETH) 2:15:55

Tigist Ketema (ETH) 2:16:07

Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 2:16:14

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