Sutume Asefa ETHElite Race Preview / Prize PurseRecord BonusesWorld Record (WR)Japan National Record (NR)Course Record (CR)Prize Purse*Tax includedRemarks1st-place only1st-place Japanese only1st-place only47Prize Purse1st$80,0002nd$30,0003rd$15,0004th$7,0005th$5,0006th$4,0007th$3,0008th$2,0009th $1,00010th $500PlaceWorld Record (WR)Japan National Record (NR)Course Record (CR)［ Elite Race ］I would like to express my profound gratitude to all of those who have worked so hard to make this event possible. I participated in the Tokyo Marathon as Race Director for the first time last year. The Tokyo Marathon has a reputation as a very fast course, and to further increase its value, last time I expressed my hope for a race where a new world record is within reach. I still hold the same opinion this time. However, the only thing we cannot control is the weather. For the Tokyo Marathon 2026, we invited top-tier athletes who would make an outstanding record and race development under any circumstances. First with the men’s field, MUTISO, Alexander (Kenya) who has a personal best time of 2:03:11 will finally make his much -anticipated run in Tokyo. Although he is known in Japan as MUTISO and competes for the corporate team ND Soft, he is internationally recognized as MUNYAO, Alexander. He claimed victory at the 2024 TCS London Marathon and is undoubtedly a world-class athlete. KIPLAGAT, Timothy (Kenya) who was the runner-up in the Tokyo Marathon 2024, finishing in 2:02:55 is also a top contender. He could not perform at his best in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon held in October last year, which ended in frustration. In the Tokyo Marathon 2026, he aims to break the competition record of 2:02:16 set by KIPRUTO, Benson (Kenya). TAKELE, Tadese (Ethiopia) who won the race last year and finished in 2:03:23 is just 23 years old, young and on the rise. MENGESHA, Milkesa (Ethiopia), winner of the BMW Berlin Marathon 2024, also won first place in the Shanghai Marathon in November 2025 and will continue to take on the challenge in the Tokyo Marathon while remaining in good form.With these four world-class competitors, it's anyone's game. I hope they will aim to break the competition record. In addition, I also look forward to seeing BAREGA, Selemon (Ethiopia) including his future growth. He is the Gold Medalist in the 10,000 meters in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and has speed. He is also a winner of the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon 2025, and with Tokyo as a start, I hope that he will make a leap to become a world-class marathon runner. AOUANI, Iliass (Italy) who won third place in the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 has a personal best of 2:06:06, and his clever race development is appealing. I am also thrilled with Japanese athletes, almost “more than athletes from overseas”. OSAKO, Suguru (LI-NING) who set a new Japanese record of 2:04:55 in the Valencia Marathon in December 2025 and SUZUKI, Kengo (Yokohama Athletics Association), a former Japanese record holder, will participate in the Tokyo Marathon 2026. I assume Osako has more records in mind. Suzuki, who has been struggling in the past few years, announced his decision to become a professional runner, and I hope that once again he aims to set a new Japanese record in a determined environment. I also look forward to the performance of KONDO, Ryota (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), the top Japanese finisher in the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, ICHIYAMA, Tsubasa (Sun Bel’x), the top Japanese finisher in the Tokyo Marathon 2025 and KOYAMA, Naoki (Honda), representative of Japan for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. OTA, Aoi (GMO Internet Group) who took on the first 42.195km race in the PlaceTokyo Marathon 2025 showed off his courageous running. I anticipate once again his ambitious run. Regarding pacemaking, we think about setting three or four stages of pacemaking for both men and women. The men’s leading pack will be most likely on pace to break the competition record of 2:02:16, and for women, too, it will be on pace to break the competition record of 2:15:55. Japanese male athletes may aim to set a new Japanese record. Or they may aim to break the qualifying standard (men: 2:03:59 and women: 2:16:59) of “MGC First Pass” for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. If any of the athletes have a will to aim for the first pass, we would like to provide support. We used to control the pacemaking of the men’s leading pack by bike, and this time as a new attempt, three pacemaking bikes in total will go parallel. At this moment, we anticipate to have the pacemaking for men’s leading pack, Japanese athletes’ pack and women’s leading pack. By conveying the information like the pace and estimated finish time to the athletes, we hope to provide better support. Let’s also draw attention to the women’s field. Key players will aim for a good record and there will be fierce competition for the championship. FEYSA, Hawi (Ethiopia) who won the Bank of America Chicago Marathon last year in 2:14:57 -the fifth fastest time in the world at the time- is the leading favorite. KEBEDE, Sutume Asefa (Ethiopia) who aims for a third consecutive victory in the Tokyo Marathon 2026 knows everything about the course in Tokyo. She will for sure aim to break the competition record of 2:15:55 set by herself. KOSGEI, Brigid (Kenya), former world record holder, won the Shanghai Marathon last year, showing that she is in a good condition. WANJIRU, Rosemary (Kenya), winner of the BMW Berlin Marathon 2025, is building on the momentum. Having won the Tokyo Marathon 2023, she is a talented athlete who consistently runs well. She will be competing on equal terms with FEYSA, KEBEDE and KOSGEI and be involved in the top battle. Furthermore, HOSODA, Ai (EDION) who announced her retirement does not regard the Tokyo Marathon as a commemorative race, but rather aims for a new personal best and to finish her career on a high note. YOSHIKAWA, Yumi (Canon) and MORI, Chikako (SEKISUI CHEMICAL) will likely be ranked among the top Japanese athletes. For both men and women, I do not want to think about athletes from overseas and Japan separately, and we hope to provide support to the athletes so that one day, Japanese top athletes would run among the leading pack on almost world record pace which would be equal to a Japanese record. Next year, the Tokyo Marathon will mark the 20th anniversary. We look forward to a race where a new world record would be set in the Tokyo Marathon in near future. Please fully enjoy the exciting Tokyo Marathon 2026. Prize Purse$200,000¥5,000,000$20,000MenKIPTUM, KelvinWomenCHEPNGETICH, RuthMen OSAKO, SuguruWomenMAEDA, Honami Men KIPRUTO, BensonWomenKEBEDE, SutumeRace DirectorOSHIMA, YasuhiroKENKENJPNJPNKEN 2：00：35（2023／Chicago）2：09：56（2024／Chicago）2：04：55（2025／Valancia）2：18：59（2024／Osaka）2：02：16（2024）2：15：55（2024）
元のページ ../index.html#49