Kenya will be out to reclaim the men’s title at the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday as a strong contingent led by Alexander Munyao, Timothy Kiplagat and Vincent Ngetich seeks to restore the country’s dominance in the Japanese capital.
Kenya last ruled the Tokyo streets in 2024, when Benson Kipruto powered to victory in 2:02:16, leading a commanding Kenyan podium sweep. Kiplagat (2:02:55) and Ngetich (2:04:18) completed that historic clean sweep in one of the country’s most emphatic displays at a World Marathon Major.
Ethiopia disrupted that dominance last year when Tadese Takele stormed to victory in 2:03:23 ahead of compatriot Deresa Geleta (2:03:51), with Ngetich finishing third in 2:04:00. Sunday’s race therefore presents Kenya with an early opportunity to strike back and reassert control in the opening Major of the season.
Leading the Kenyan charge is Munyao, the 2024 London Marathon champion, who will be making his Tokyo debut. Despite his inexperience on the course, Munyao arrives with strong credentials after emerging as one of Kenya’s most consistent performers on the Major circuit.
He won his maiden Major title in London in 2024, clocking 2:04:01 after outkicking Kenenisa Bekele and Britain’s Emile Cairess.
Munyao carried that form into 2025, finishing third in London in 2:04:20 behind Sabastian Sawe and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo before placing second at the New York City Marathon in 2:08:09 behind Kipruto in a dramatic sprint finish.
“I hope 2026 will be an even better season. I am hopeful for the best,” Munyao said ahead of the race. “For me, 2025 has been a good season. I am happy with how it turned out.”
Kiplagat enters the race as the fastest man in the field thanks to his 2:02:55 runner-up finish in Tokyo in 2024.
The 33-year-old will be aiming to convert that near-miss into victory after a mixed 2025 season that saw him finish third at the Meishan Half Marathon in 1:01:06 before placing 12th at the Chicago Marathon in 2:07:42.
Ngetich also returns with strong credentials, having finished on the podium in Tokyo in both 2024 and 2025. The consistent marathoner knows the course well and could prove vital to Kenya’s bid to regain the crown despite opening his 2026 campaign with a 10th-place finish at the Houston Half Marathon in 1:00:29.
Further depth in the Kenyan squad comes from Daniel Mateiko and Geoffrey Toroitich, strengthening the country’s chances of reclaiming the title.
However, the Kenyans will face stiff resistance from Ethiopia, led by defending champion Takele and 2024 Berlin Marathon champion Milkesa Mengesha. Also in the field are Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega and Japan’s national record holder Suguru Osako.
In the women’s race, former world record holder Brigid Kosgei looks to reclaim the title she last won in 2022. She will face strong opposition from Berlin Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru and defending champion Sutume Kebede.
