Tadese Takele Triumphs at Tokyo Marathon 2025 with a Stunning Victory

Tokyo, Japan – March 2, 2025

Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele produced a dominant performance at the Tokyo Marathon 2025, claiming victory in a personal-best time of 2:03:23. His sensational win marks one of the fastest performances in Tokyo Marathon history and solidifies his status as one of the world’s premier marathoners.

 

Takele, who had previously finished third at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, showed exceptional endurance and race strategy to edge out a strong field, including fellow Ethiopian Deresa Geleta (2:03:51) and Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (2:04:00), who finished second and third, respectively.

 

How the Race Unfolded

The Tokyo Marathon 2025 was expected to be a tactical battle, with several elite runners boasting sub-2:05 credentials. From the start, a fast lead pack of eight runners set an aggressive pace, hitting the halfway mark in 1:01:25—on course for a potential sub-2:03 finish.

 

As the race progressed, the Ethiopian duo of Takele and Geleta began to surge, breaking away from the field just after the 35km mark. Takele made his decisive move at 39km, pulling ahead with a powerful acceleration that Geleta could not match. The Ethiopian stormed through the final stretch to cross the finish line in 2:03:23, securing his first-ever World Marathon Majors victory.

 

Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich fought hard to stay in contention but ultimately settled for third place, clocking 2:04:00—a strong result that further cements his status as a rising star in marathon running.

 

Ethiopian Dominance and Kenyan Resilience

With Takele and Geleta securing the top two spots, Ethiopia showcased its continued dominance in long-distance running. Takele’s victory makes him the third Ethiopian man in history to win the Tokyo Marathon, following Birhanu Legese (2019, 2020) and Mosinet Geremew (2022).

Kenyan runners still made a strong showing, with Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich taking third, while Titus Kipruto (4th), Benson Kipruto (6th), and Geoffrey Toroitich (7th) all finished in the top 10. However, the defending champion and Tokyo course record holder Benson Kipruto struggled to find his best form, finishing in 2:05:46—a solid but unspectacular performance compared to his 2:02:16 win last year.

 

Joshua Cheptegei’s Marathon Progress

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, the world record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m, continued his transition to the marathon with a career-best time of 2:05:59. After a disastrous debut in Valencia 2023 (2:08:59, 37th place), Cheptegei has shown remarkable improvement, cracking the top 10 in Tokyo. While he was unable to challenge for the podium, this result suggests that with further experience, he could become a serious marathon contender in the future.

 

Japan’s Bright Hope – Ichiyama Tsubasa

Japan’s Ichiyama Tsubasa finished 10th overall in 2:06:00, securing the best finish for a Japanese athlete in this year’s race. His strong performance is a promising sign for Japanese long-distance running, as the nation continues to build towards the Paris 2025 World Athletics Championships and future Olympic Games.

 

What’s Next?

The Tokyo Marathon 2025 provided an electrifying start to the World Marathon Majors season, setting the stage for an exciting year of marathon racing. Tadese Takele’s victory establishes him as a major contender for the Paris 2025 World Championships and the upcoming fall marathons.

 

With the Boston, London, and Berlin Marathons still to come, the world’s top marathoners will be eager to challenge Takele’s winning time and stake their claim for dominance in 2025.

 

Did You Know?

Tadese Takele’s 2:03:23 is the third-fastest winning time in Tokyo Marathon history.
The Tokyo Marathon is known for fast times, with multiple sub-2:04 performances in recent years.
Japan’s Ichiyama Tsubasa was the only non-African runner in the top 10, showcasing Japan’s continued presence in global marathon racing.

The Tokyo Marathon 2025 was a thrilling showcase of elite endurance racing—who will rise to the challenge next?

 

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

Position	Athlete	Country	Time
1st	Tadese Takele	Ethiopia	2:03:23
2nd	Deresa Geleta	Ethiopia	2:03:51
3rd	Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich	Kenya	2:04:00
4th	Titus Kipruto	Kenya	2:05:34
5th	Mulugeta Asefa Uma	Ethiopia	2:05:46
6th	Benson Kipruto	Kenya	2:05:46
7th	Geoffrey Toroitich	Kenya	2:05:46
8th	Suldan Hassan	Sweden	2:05:57
9th	Joshua Cheptegei	Uganda	2:05:59
10th	Ichiyama Tsubasa	Japan	2:06:00

 

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