Reigning champion Birhanu Legese successfully defended his title while local star Suguru Osako got closer to securing the final spot on Japan's Olympic team with a national-record-setting performance in the men's race at the 2020 Tokyo Marathon on Sunday.
Legese, of Ethiopia, crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 15 seconds in the annual event, which is among the world's major races. Belgian Bashir Abdi took the runner-up spot in 2:04:49 while another Ethiopian, Sisay Lemma, was third in 2:04:51. Legese, who finished last fall's Berlin Marathon in 2:02:28, the world's fourth-best time, fell short of the Tokyo Marathon course record of 2:03:58.
"I originally aimed at running a time of 2:03:30 or faster," said Legese, who gave himself a cushion with a spurt around the 39-km mark. "But it didn't work out that way because I felt pain (in my left leg) and was forced to alter my plan to focus on just winning the race. I'm pleased to have won."