Eliud Kipchoge’s preparations for the Paris Olympics suffered a major blow as the greatest runner in history over 26.2 miles could only finish 10th in the Tokyo Marathon.
Kenya has not yet named its three-man marathon team for the Games, but there were worrying signs for selectors as Kipchoge faded badly after 12 miles before crossing the line in two hours, six mins and 50 seconds.
That time was more than four minutes behind his compatriot Benson Kipruto, who won in a course-record 2:02:16, with another Kenyan, Timothy Kiplagat, coming second in 2:02:55.
The finish was Kipchoge’s worst over the distance, surpassing the 2020 London Marathon when he finished eighth after suffering with an ear infection.
Afterwards the 39-year-old Kipchoge, who won the Olympic marathons in Rio and Tokyo, admitted it was “too early to say” what shape he will be in at the Paris Games. “That’s how it is – not every day is Christmas Day,” he said.
Initially everything had looked to be going to plan as a group of seven men ran the first 15km (9.3 miles) of the race in 42:45, which was on pace for the late Kelvin Kiptum’s world record of 2:00:35.
But shortly afterwards Kipchoge began to fall back and never recovered. Afterwards he claimed that “something happened in the middle of the race,” without elaborating. “I will go back, relax and start training,” he added.
Meanwhile Kipruto, the 2021 Boston marathon and 2022 Chicago marathon winner, said his victory should enhance his claims for selection for the Olympics.
“I think I’m ready for Paris,” he said. “But that relies on my country for selection. I’m still waiting on that but I’m ready.”
There was also a surprise in the women’s race as Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede won in a course record 2:15:55.
The reigning world champion Amane Beriso Shankule, from Ethiopia, had to settle for third place in 2:16:58, while the pre-race favourite Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, came fourth in 2:18.05.
Hassan, the Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion, was competing in only her third marathon, having won in London and Chicago last year. She has yet to decide in which events she will compete in Paris, but she said she was satisfied with her performance. “It doesn’t change my Olympics,” she said. “I know what shape I’m in and it really doesn’t matter. I learned a lot.”
