Tokyo Marathon 2019 Elite Field has been announced. Please go to the link below for all the details.
Elite details

Tokyo Marathon 2019 Race Preview

Ever since 2017, when the new flat and fast course was introduced in the 11th　edition of the Tokyo Marathon, fast times are being recorded. The Tokyo Marathon is now a truly world class race.

Two years ago, a former world record holder Wilson Kipsang (KEN) recorded the Japanese all comers record of 2:03:58 on this course. In the same year, a marathon debutant Yuta Shitara (JPN, Honda) ran aggressively and for a while, stayed close to Kipsang. The race gave hope and courage to Japanese runners and fans, leading to the thoughts "Japanese can compete well at the world class level."
Sequel to the drama, Shitara recorded Japanese record of 2:06:11 for the first time in 16 years. To add further excitement, the Japan Industrial Track & Field Association awarded Shitara with 100-million-yen prize money as part of "Project Exceed", a program launched to encourage athletes to break national records. Additionally, nine Japanese runners have cracked 2:10 for the marathon, showing that many of them are ready to compete at the world class level. I remember last year's race was nothing like previous years, leading to the new era for Japanese men's marathon.

This year, the 13th edition of the Tokyo Marathon, is expected to be even more exciting than the previous years.

On the men's side, Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), who has the personal best of 2:03:03, third fastest marathon in history on the standard course, head the field. Kenenisa, who is endowed with superior speed, won the gold medal at track events in both the 2004 & 2008 Olympics. He is known for his aggressive running style and thus likely to be the force to be reckoned with in Tokyo Marathon. Total of five 2:04 runners, including great tactician Dickson Chumba, the only two-time Tokyo Marathon champion (2014, 2018) on the men's side, and El Hassan El Abassi (BRN), who battled with Hiroto Inoue (JPN, MHPS) in the 2018 Asian Games, will start the race. Furthermore, two Kenyans with 2:05 marathon best are in the field. It is very interesting to see how the race will unfold.

The most fascinating runner in the field, at least from the Japanese perspective, is Suguru Osako (JPN, Nike Oregon Project), who recorded the national record of 2:05:50 in the Chicago Marathon in October. How will he run his first Tokyo Marathon? In the 2017 Boston Marathon, his debut, Osako recorded 2:10:28. In his second marathon, the 2017 Fukuoka Marathon, he improved his personal best to 2:07:19 before recording the national record in Chicago. He is steadily improving his personal best and his potential is unimaginable. By battling well against the runners from abroad including Kenenisa Bekele, perhaps he can improve his own national record again.

At the present time, two sets of pacemakers are planned for the men's race. First set of pacemakers will lead at 2:57-2:58 /km pace until 30km, targeting the time around 2:04:30 to 2:05:10. Osako, along with the Africans headed by Kenenisa Bekele are expected to follow the first set of pacemakers. I would also like to see other Japanese runners to follow these pacers to experience the world class races.
The second set of pacemakers will lead the runners at 3min/km to target the final time around 2:06:35. Ryo Kiname (JPN, MHPS), who finished seventh with 2:08:08 last year in Tokyo, as well as Shogo Nakamura (JPN, Fujitsu), who has the best of 2:08:16, have a potential to record 2:06 marathon. They probably target at least 2:07 marathon in Tokyo.

It is hard not to expect a great marathon from Kenta Murayama (JPN, Asahi Kasei). In the 10th edition of the Tokyo Marathon in 2016, Murayama was the only Japanese to stay with the lead pack as far as 22km. The impact he made in his debut marathon is unforgettable. Many imagine that Murayama runs better at a fast-paced marathon. If he is sucked into the fast pace, Murayama could move up several levels as a marathon runner.

In recent years, Japanese men's marathon is on the rise. Last year, Shitara and Inoue recorded 2:06 marathon in Tokyo. Later in the year, Inoue won the Asian Games marathon, Osako recorded the national record and first 2:05 marathon by Japanese in Chicago, and in December Yuma Hattori (JPN, Toyota Motors) became the first Japanese to win the Fukuoka Marathon in 14 years. With young and upcoming runners on the rise, the Japanese are closing on to the best in the world. I am determined to do everything possible for the race so that at least five Japanese will run 2:06 marathon before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The women's field is also loaded this year with fast runners and thus the expectation for a great competition is high. The rising star from abroad is Ruti Aga (ETH), who recorded the personal best of 2:18:34 at the Berlin Marathon last September. Perhaps one set of women's pacemakers will aim for a 2:17 finishing time. In addition, there are three other runners with the personal best of 2:19 including Florence Kiplagat.

Among the Japanese women Honami Maeda (JPN, Tenmaya), who was second in the 2018 Osaka Women's Marathon and Keiko Nogami (JPN, 18 Bank), who won the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, will start the race. They have already qualified for the Marathon Grand Championships (MGC, the Japanese Olympic trial marathon). Yuka Takashima (JPN, Shiseido), who ran 10000m in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, is running her second marathon in her attempt to qualify for the MGC. Mao Ichiyama (JPN, Wacoal), making her marathon debut, is expected to run aggressively. Excitement is never ending for this year's race.

With the Tokyo Olympics just around the corner, elite runners, both men and women, are gathering in Tokyo to experience the Olympic course. It is exciting to see the world class competitions. If Osako and his Japanese rivals come close to the national record, it will add to the excitement. The history may be in making. Please enjoy the Tokyo Marathon 2019, the scene of world class runners running over the world class course.

Tokyo Marathon Race Director
Tad Hayano

Elite Race page is here