Aberu Kebede wins Tokyo Marathon

Tokyo, japan – Aberu Kebede of Ethiopia won the Tokyo Marathon here today in 2:25:34, a time just outside the course record.

The second place went to another Ethiopian, Yeshi Esayas who came in second in 2:26.01, while 40-year-old Irina Mikitenko of Germany, the World Marathon Majors champion in 2008 and 2009,  finished third in 2:26:41.

The Tokyo Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Men’s Race

The men’s race was an all Kenyan affair as Dennis Kimetto of Kenya, the runner-up at last September’s BMW Berlin Marathon and the world record holder over 25km, ran a superb second half to set a new course record of 2:06:50. Bernard Kipyego was second with a personal best of 2:06:58 while Bernard Kipyego was third with 2:07:53.

The Tokyo race was making its debut as a World Marathon Majors race, joining Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.