Kenyan runners Agnes Ngetich and Alexander Mutiso set new course records after winning the women’s and men’s races at the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon in Japan on Sunday.
Ngetich finished the 21.1km race in one hour, four minutes and 23 seconds (1:04:23), cutting three minutes off the previous women’s course record. Her compatriot Tabitha Njeri Kamau came second in 1:08:28, according to the results.
Mutiso won the men’s competition in 59 minutes and 51 seconds, beating the previous course record by one second. He finished five seconds ahead of fellow Kenyan Kiprono Sitonik, who took second place.
Speaking after the race, Ngetich said she that was pleased with her victory and surprised by her finishing time. She also noted that the course had been challenging, with hills and numerous sharp turns. “I didn’t think I’ll get that time. The course was not easy,” she said.
Mutiso said his victory had boosted his confidence ahead of his next marathon. He explained that he made his decisive move on a hilly section of the course between the 17km and 18.5km marks.
“I feel good. I see now I am in a good position to prepare well for [my] coming marathon,” he said.
The course began and ended at Japan’s National Stadium and followed roads used during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Ngetich’s victory came less than a month after she broke the women-only half marathon world record at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. The 25-year-old completed that race in 1:05:15.
Kenyan distance runners have also recorded major victories in other international competitions this year. In April, Sebastian Sawe became the first athlete to complete an official competitive marathon in under two hours, winning the London Marathon in a world-record 1:59:30. Fellow Kenyan John Korir also won the Boston Marathon that month, setting a course record of 2:01:52.
The London Marathon also saw a record-breaking performance in the women’s race. Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa set a new women’s-only marathon world record of 2:15:50.