Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru made history in Japan by running the seventh-fastest women’s marathon time after stopping the clock after 2:16:28 in the Tokyo Marathon.
She finished 28 seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Tsehay Gemechu, who also ran under 2:17.
Wanjiru was running the second marathon since transitioning into road races. Her most recent triumph was a 2:18:00 debut for the runner-up spot in Berlin last year.
Wanjiru battled with last year’s runner-up Ashete Bekere and her Ethiopian compatriots Tigist Abayechew, Worknesh Edesa, and Gemechu.
Japan’s Mizuki Matsuda was among the athletes who accompanied Wanjiru through the 5km mark that was covered in 16:19.
The leading park crossed the 10km point in thirty-two minutes and 34 seconds.
Wanjiru was head and shoulders above the rest after 39 kilometers, and went on, to accelerate, creating a wider rift between her and the chasing pack.
She cut the tape after two hours, sixteen minutes and twenty eight seconds, to register her personal best in the marathon.
Meanwhile, in the men’s race, Ethiopian Deso Gelmisa outlasted compatriots Mohamed Esa and Tsegaye Getachew to lead an Ethiopian top three in 2:05:22
