Eliud Kipchoge’s preparations for the Paris Olympics suffered a major blow when the greatest 26.2-mile runner of all time finished 10th in the Tokyo Marathon.
Kenya has yet to finalize its three-man marathon runner-up for the Olympics, but there were some worrying signs as Kipchoge faded badly after 12 miles, finishing in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 50 seconds.
The time was more than four minutes behind compatriot Benson Kipruto, who won in 2:02:16, and another Kenyan, Timothy Kiprugat. Timothy Kiplagat finished second in 2 hours, 02 minutes and 55 seconds.
It was Kipchoge’s worst finish overall, surpassing the 2020 London Marathon when he finished eighth due to an ear infection.
Later, the 39-year-old Kipchoge, who won the marathon championship at the Rio Olympics and Tokyo Olympics, admitted that it was “too early” to judge his status at the Paris Olympics. “Here’s the thing – not every day is Christmas,” he said.
Initially, everything looked to be going according to plan, with seven men completing the first 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) of the race in 42 minutes and 45 seconds, a time equal to that of the late Kelvin Kiptum Kiptum’s world record of 2:00:35.
But it wasn’t long before Kipchoge began to slip back and never recovered. He later claimed “something happened midway through the game” but did not elaborate. “I’ll go back, relax and start training,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kipruto, the 2021 Boston Marathon and 2022 Chicago Marathon champion, said his win should bolster his Olympic credentials.
“I think I’m ready to go to Paris,” he said. “But it depends on my country’s choice. I’m still waiting, but I’m ready.”
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There were also surprises in the women’s race. Ethiopian athlete Sutume Asefa Kebede won the women’s championship with a track record of 2 hours, 15 minutes and 5 seconds.
Defending world champion Amane Beriso Shankule of Ethiopia finished third in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 58 seconds, while pre-race favorite Sivan Hassan of the Netherlands finished fourth in 2 hours, 18.05 seconds. name.
Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion Hassan won in London and Chicago last year and this was only her third marathon. She has yet to decide which events in Paris she will compete in, but said she was pleased with her performance. “It’s not going to change my Olympics,” she said. “I know where I am, it doesn’t matter. I learned a lot.”
