Tokyo Marathon is last race of the WMM 2015/16 series, a view from Europe, by EME News

As our friends from @WMMajors are telling us, the Tokyo marathon should be quite exciting. Watch for coverage of the post race pressers from Tokyo! Here is some fun facts from Alfons Juck at EME News.

Tokyo Marathon memory, Haile with Manager Jos Hermans, 2012, photo by PhotoRun.net

Kiprotich, E. Kiplagat, A. Kirui
TOKYO (JPN): Renowned championship runners Stephen Kiprotich, Abel Kirui and Edna Kiplagat are among the big names taking part in the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday. Kiprotich was second last year in a Ugandan record of 2:06:33 and was third in 2012 before winning the Olympic title in London. Other favourites include 2014 champion and 2015 Chicago Marathon winner Dickson Chumba, two-time Amsterdam Marathonwinner Bernard Kipyego, Berlin Marathon runner-up Eliud Kiptanui and third-placer Feyisa Lilesa. Kirui is a two-time world champion but has struggled with injuries – including a stress fracture – in recent seasons while the fastest athlete in the field Emmanuel Mutai with a 2:03:13 PB was only 11th in London and fourth in Berlin last year. In the women’s race, Kiplagat faces a strong Ethiopian contingent including reigning champion Birhane Dibaba, former winner Aberu Kebede, world junior record-holder Shure Demise and two-time Istanbul Marathon winner Amane Gobena. Worldmarathon silver medallist and last year’s runner-up Helah Kiprop also competes. This race is one of the designated selection races for the Japanese men’s marathon team for Rio and the leading domestic runners in the field include Masato Imai (2:07:39 PB), Arata Fujiwara (2:07:48) and Kohei Matsumura (2:08:09).

Last race of WMM 2015/16
TOKYO (JPN): Victory in Tokyo would put Dickson Chumba equal with Eliud Kipchoge at the top of the 2015/16 Abbott World Marathon Majors Series IX standings with 50 points. Likewise, Birhane Dibaba (34 points), Helah Kirop (32 points) and Aberu Kebede (16 points) are all within striking distance of Mary Keitany who leads the women’s rankings on 41 points. The points system is: 25 points for a win, 16 points for second, 9 points for third, 4 points for fourth and 1 point for fifth and the best results from two races count towards their ranking.