Birhanu Legese wins Tokyo Marathon, Bashir Abdi destroys Belgian Record for a 2nd place!

Birhanu Legese, photo courtesy of World Athletics

This update came from NN Running team on the Tokyo Marathon!

Birhanu Legese has successfully defended his title at the Tokyo Marathon. One of the Ethiopian leaders of the NN Running Team crossed the finish line in 2:04.15. Bashir Abdi from Belgium showed his true talents and shattered his own Belgian record. Bashir Abdi finished in 2^nd place overall in an incredible 2:04.51 in sunny conditions on the empty streets of Tokyo. Bashir’s Belgian record stood at 2:06.14. In the women’s field Selly Chepyego finished 4^th with Azmera Gebru finishing in 6^th place.

An elated Birhanu Legese said shortly after finishing: ‘This is such a wonderful feeling to come back to Tokyo as the reigning champion and to able to win it again. The conditions where really good today, I think there were many fast times today. Moments like these is why we work so hard all year long. It was very great for me to come back to Japan and to run this race that I love so much.’

Bashir Abdi: ‘I don’t have the words to describe how happy and thankful I am. I want to thank everyone who has been on my side for the incredible support they have given me. Every marathon I run seem to go better and better than the last one so I am very excited to see the hard work I put in paying off. This 2^nd place finish and a time of 2:04.51 gives me a lot of confidence as we head back to Japan for the Olympics later this year.