- Iconic marathoner Eliud Kipchoge has touched down in Japan, where he is hoped to shatter another world record in the highly anticipated Tokyo Marathon set for March 3rd
- Vibrant snapshots shared by the NN Running Team showcase Kipchoge breezing through light training sessions alongside fellow athletes
- Kipchoge was accompanied by his mentor and coach Patrick Sang, alongside other Kenyan athletes, who will also make their bid to clinch a medal in the elusive race
Renowned marathoner Eliud Kipchoge has arrived in Japan, where he will chase yet another world record in an elusive race scheduled for March 3.
Photos shared by the NN Running Team showed the marathoner having some light training alongside other athletes.
Kipchoge left the country accompanied by his mentor and coach Patrick Sang among other athletes.
He is returning to Tokyo having won an Olympic gold medal on the streets of Sapporo at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 before setting a course record on his last entry in March 2022.
The 17th edition of the marathon will be held on Sunday starting at 3;10 am-10;10 am East Africa Time (EAT).
Tokyo is the first of the six major marathons in 2024.
Boston and London follow in April then that of Berlin, Chicago and New York in the autumn.
Kipchoge, according to his organizers, is inspired to compete and win in these races.
“Eliud, the world record-holder and the first man in history to run a sub-two-hour marathon-achieving the feat at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge – has spoken of his desire to compete and win all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, regarded as the world’s top six marathon races,” Global sports communication said.
Other athletes from Kenya invited to participate in the Tokyo Marathon are Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, Timothy Kiplagat and Benson Kipruto.
They are set to face stiff competition from four Ethiopians-Hailemaryam Kiros, Andualem Belay, Tsegaye Getachew and Chalu Deso.
Others in the race are Victor Kiplangat (USA) and six Japanese Kengo Suzuki, Ichitaka Tamashita, Kenya Sonota, Kyohei Hosoya, Kazuya Nishiyama, and Yohei Ikeda.
They will be running on a 26.2-mile course around Japan capital starting at the Tokyo Metropolitan government building, with the finish line being the stage next to Tokyo station.
Kipchoge has won the Berlin Marathon three times and Chicago Marathon once and London Marathon four times
