Abbott World Marathon Majors 2015 – Tokyo Marathon Preview

An exciting chase for the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) prize purse heats up in 2015 with the beginning of a new series in Tokyo on February 22.

February 20, 2015, Tokyo, Japan – The Tokyo Marathon sets in motion a new one-year AWMM series cycle. Starting with Tokyo, several of the world’s best elite athletes are set to take the global stage and compete not only for an Abbott World Marathon Majors victory, but the Series IX title.

Series IX begins with the Tokyo Marathon and concludes with the completion of the Tokyo Marathon in 2016. AWMM Series X will begin with the Boston Marathon in 2016 and conclude in Boston in 2017. Each one-year series cycle will begin and end upon the completion of the next prospective AWMM race. The Olympic Marathon and the IAAF World Championships will be included in the race schedule during the years in which they are held. The champions of the AWMM series will be the male and female athletes who score the greatest number of points from qualifying races during the one-year scoring period. During each scoring period, points from a maximum of two qualifying races will be scored.

“We are very excited to officially kick off the Abbott partnership and the new series at the Tokyo Marathon,” says Abbott World Marathon Majors General Manager, Tim Hadzima. “The AWMM continues to elevate the profile of distance running across the globe by bringing together six of the most prestigious marathons in the world, adding an element of excitement with the one-year series, and raising the popularity of the sport as a whole among runners of all fitness levels.”

The 2015 AWMM Series IX follows an historical 2014 campaign that saw the men’s world record fall in Berlin, the men’s and women’s course records shattered in Tokyo, the closest women’s finish in nearly two decades in London, an inspiring win for American Meb Keflezighi in Boston, the first time three men in the same race dipped under 2:05 in Chicago, and a thrilling title run in New York for former world record holder Wilson Kipsang (KEN). Kipsang made a decisive move down the homestretch against a hard charging, but fatigued, Lelisa Desisa (ETH) to capture not only the win in New York, but also the 2013-2014 World Marathon Majors title. In the end, only one point separated Kipsang and his training partner, current world record holder Dennis Kimetto (KEN), for the title and $500,000.

With star-studded elite fields toeing the lines in Tokyo, and then later this spring in Boston and London*, 2015 could see records threatened and broken, rivalries born and new legends emerge. Below is a preview for the Tokyo Marathon, including a list of runners in both the men’s and women’s elite fields.

With so many exciting athletes participating in AWMM races this year, each race will receive its own preview, including updated stats on the men’s and women’s leaderboard.

*The AWMM fall marathons, including the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon, will announce their elite fields later.

Tokyo Marathon: Sunday, February 22, 2015

The Tokyo Marathon enters its third year as a World Marathon Major and its ninth year as a world-class event. Its popularity is evident via its lottery: 304,825 people entered, vying for one of the 28,400 spaces available for the general public.

In 2014, Dickson Chumba (KEN) rewrote the record books with a 2:05:42 performance on the men’s side, and Tirfi Tsegaye (ETH) did the same on the women’s side, stopping the clock at 2:22:23. This year’s field, headlined by 2012 London Olympic Marathon champions Stephen Kiprotich (UGA) and Tiki Gelana (ETH), sets the tone for another record chase. Outside of the course records, the Japanese all-comers records of 2:05:18 (Tsegaye Kebede) and 2:21:18 (Mizuki Noguchi) could be in jeopardy.

“I am truly honored to be able to run the Tokyo Marathon again,” said Kiprotich. “I regret that I finished in the 3rd place in Tokyo in 2012, but later that year, I could turn that defeat into a great victory at the London Olympic Games. This time, here in Tokyo, I’m determined to do my best, so that I could turn my bitter memory into a wonderful one.”

In addition to Kiprotich, the men’s race features an astonishing 20 men with personal bests under 2:09:30. Dickson Chumba, fresh off of his 2:04:32 third place finish in Chicago, returns to defend his 2014 title. If successful, he will be the first to defend the Tokyo Marathon title successfully. 2012-2013 WMM winner and former Bank of America Chicago Marathon course record holder, Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) stands out as the main contender. But the script is far from written – five men enter the field with sub 2:06 bests, and London Olympics 10,000m bronze medalist, Tariku Bekele (ETH), will make his marathon debut. Leading the Japanese contingent are 2:07 runner Arata Fujiwara and last year’s top finisher, Kohei Matsumura.

Tiki Gelana lines up in Tokyo seeking redemption after a tough 2014 season hampered by injuries.

“So far, my training is going on well,” reported Gelana. “I have very good memories of racing and life in Japan and I look forward to running for the first time in my life the Tokyo Marathon.”

If Gelana arrives in her 2012 Olympic Marathon shape, she will be hard to beat, but last year’s runner-up, Birhane Dibaba  (ETH), has the potential and speed to run down the women’s field and take home the crown.

Far from a two-person race, Flomena Cheyech Daniel (KEN) remains at the top of the list of potential winners after her 2014 Paris win in 2:22:44, and newcomer Sally Chepyego, third at the IAFF World half marathon Championships, could be the dark horse who breaks the tape first.

Top Elite Fields (sub 2:06, sub 2:24, plus other notable runners)

Tokyo Marathon
Men’s Field*
Tsegaye Kebede
Dickson Chumba
Markos Geneti
Peter Some
Joseph Gitau
Stephen Kiprotich
Tariku Bekele
Arata Fujiwara
Kohei Matsumura
Ryo Yamamoto
*Geoffrey Mutai has withdrawn from the field

Women’s Field

Tiki Gelana
Birhane Dibaba
Flomena Cheyech Daniel
Sally Chepyego
Albina Mayorova
Yeshi Esayias
Azusa Nojiri

Source:  Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM)

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