Rosemary Wanjiru chasing course record and second Tokyo Marathon title

Following a successful campaign in the 2023 Tokyo Marathon, Rosemary Wanjiru returns to the Japanese capital she calls a second home, chasing a personal best (PB) and a second title.

The 30-year-old goes up against last year’s winner and course record holder Sutume Asefa Kebede, who clocked 2:15:55 to win, breaking the previous record of 2:16:02 set by Brigid Kosgei in 2021 by seven seconds.

Kipruto eyes record in Sunday’s Tokyo Marathon

Sutume ran her best time in Tokyo last year and followed up with a 2:17:32 for a second-place finish in Chicago. “I’ve covered everything in training, long distance, speed work, everything. I’m in PB shape,” she offered.

The duo goes up against 2024 Dubai and Berlin winner Tigist Ketema, 2024 Frankfurt winner Hawi Feysa, 2022 World Championships gold medalist and 2023 World Championships silver medalist Gotytom Gebresslase.

Also part of the lineup include 2024 Lanzhou winner Magdalene Masai, 2024 Barcelona winner Degitu Azimeraw, 2024 Nagoya winner Yuka Ando, and 2023 Olympic Trials third-placer Ai Hosoda, among others.

“I am happy to be back in Tokyo. I am in excellent physical condition and confident heading to the race on Sunday. My training went well. Since withdrawing from Berlin, I went back to training, and I am here chasing a new PB and the title.

This is a second home for me. Running here is a joy. I have a lot of support here, and the course is good. All of us will be able to achieve good times,” Wanjiru said in her pre-race interview with the organisers.

Tigist, Wanjiru, and Hawi all ran faster than Sutume’s Chicago time in their most recent marathons, so it might take something close to that kind of time to win it.

Asked whether she would be chasing the course record, Wanjiru, who chose to speak in Japanese at the press conference, said, “Yeah, well, I guess we’ll see.”

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Elite Women’s list

Sutume Asefa Kebede (Ethiopia) - 2:15:55 (1st, Tokyo 2024)

Tigist Ketema (Ethiopia) - 2:16:07 (1st, Dubai 2024)

Rosemary Wanjiru (Kenya) - 2:16:14 (2nd, Tokyo 2024)

Hawi Feysa (Ethiopia) - 2:17:25 (1st, Frankfurt 2024)

Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia) - 2:18:11 (1st, Oregon Worlds 2022)

Winfridaw Moraa Moseti (Kenya) - 2:18:25 (2nd, Hamburg 2024)

Magdalyne Masai (Kenya) - 2:18:58 (2nd, Frankfurt 2024)

Degitu Azimeraw (Ethiopia) - 2:19:52 (1st, Barcelona 2024)

Ai Hosoda (Japan/Edion) - 2:20:31 (5th, Berlin 2024)

Desi Jisa Mokonin (Bahrain) - 2:20:47 (2nd, Doha 2023)

Yuka Ando (Japan/Shimamura) - 2:21:18 (1st, Nagoya 2024)

Jessica Stenson (Australia) - 2:24:01 (4th, Daegu 2024)

Deshun Zhang (China) - 2:24:05 (4th, Nagoya 2023)

Rie Kawauchi (Japan/Otsuka Seiyaku) - 2:25:35 (7th, Osaka Women's 2022)

Kaori Morita (Japan/Panasonic) - 2:26:31 (8th, Tokyo 2023)

Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh (Mongolia) - 2:26:32 (8th, Tokyo 2024)