Sutume Asefa Kebede Wins Tokyo Marathon 2025 with Historic Performance

Tokyo, Japan – March 2, 2025

Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede delivered a spectacular performance at the Tokyo Marathon 2025, winning the women’s race in a blistering 2:16:31. Her victory marks a significant milestone in her career, solidifying her status among the world’s top marathoners and making her the sixth-fastest woman in history over the 42.195 km distance.

 

A Thrilling Battle for the Podium

The race began at a fast pace, with a strong lead pack of elite contenders pushing through Tokyo’s streets in pursuit of a historic time. Kebede, Winfrida Moraa Moseti (Kenya), and Hawi Feysa (Ethiopia) emerged as the frontrunners, separating themselves from the rest of the field after the 30-kilometer mark.

 

Kebede made her decisive move with 5km to go, surging ahead with a relentless pace that her competitors couldn’t match. She crossed the finish line in 2:16:31, setting a new personal best and delivering the second-fastest winning time in Tokyo Marathon history, just behind Brigid Kosgei’s 2022 course record (2:16:02).

 

Kenya’s Winfrida Moraa Moseti fought hard to stay in contention but ultimately had to settle for second place, finishing in 2:16:56—a massive personal best. Ethiopian rising star Hawi Feysa completed the podium in 2:17:00, narrowly missing second place but still securing an impressive third-place finish.

Dominance of Ethiopian and Kenyan Athletes

As expected, East African runners dominated the Tokyo Marathon, claiming seven of the top ten spots in the women’s division. Ethiopia and Kenya continue to set the benchmark for marathon excellence, consistently producing world-class performances at the highest level.

 

One of the biggest surprises of the race was Winfrida Moraa Moseti’s silver-medal performance, as she slashed minutes off her personal best to dip under 2:17. Similarly, Hawi Feysa’s podium finish highlights Ethiopia’s growing depth of talent in women’s distance running.

 

A Solid Performance from Bahrain and China

Outside the usual Ethiopian-Kenyan dominance, Bahrain’s Desi Jisa Mokonin put on an excellent display, finishing sixth in 2:20:07, while China’s Deshun Zhang cracked the top 10 with a 2:20:53 finish, marking a strong outing for Asian marathoners.

 

Jessica Stenson Leads Australia’s Charge

Australia’s Jessica Stenson rounded out the top 10, finishing in 2:22:56. The 2022 Commonwealth Games marathon champion continues to perform at the highest level, securing an excellent result against a world-class field.

 

What’s Next?

With the Paris 2025 World Athletics Championships on the horizon, the Tokyo Marathon results have set the stage for more thrilling battles in the months ahead. Kebede’s dominant victory solidifies her status as a top contender for future global titles, while Moseti and Feysa’s performances prove they will be serious threats in upcoming major races.

 

The Tokyo Marathon 2025 once again delivered an exciting and fast-paced race, proving why it remains one of the premier events on the global marathon calendar.

Top 10 Results: Tokyo Marathon 2025 (Women’s Race)

Position	Athlete	Country	Time
1st	Sutume Asefa Kebede	Ethiopia	2:16:31
2nd	Winfrida Moraa Moseti	Kenya	2:16:56
3rd	Hawi Feysa	Ethiopia	2:17:00
4th	Magdalyne Masai	Kenya	2:19:28
5th	Rosemary Wanjiru	Kenya	2:19:57
6th	Desi Jisa Mokonin	Bahrain	2:20:07
7th	Gotytom Gebreslase	Ethiopia	2:20:25
8th	Degitu Azimeraw	Ethiopia	2:20:26
9th	Deshun Zhang	China	2:20:53
10th	Jessica Stenson	Australia	2:22:56