Photo: Margot Murphy
The Tokyo Marathon 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive editions in the event’s history. As the race approaches its 20th anniversary, organizers have assembled elite fields across the men’s, women’s, and wheelchair divisions that combine world champions, course record holders, Olympic medalists, and national record breakers.
Known as one of the fastest marathon courses in the world, the Tokyo Marathon consistently attracts athletes capable of running at world-record pace. While weather conditions will always play a role, the depth of the 2026 elite field ensures that the race will be contested aggressively from the opening kilometers through the finish in Tokyo.
Below is a full preview of the elite races, followed by the complete Tokyo Marathon 2026 elite start lists with country codes and personal bests (PRs).
Tokyo Marathon 2026 Men’s Elite Field Preview
The men’s elite field features exceptional depth, with multiple athletes holding personal bests under 2:04 and proven success at World Marathon Majors.
Kenya’s Timothy Kiplagat, runner-up at the Tokyo Marathon in 2024 with a time of 2:02:55, returns with the Tokyo course record of 2:02:16 firmly within reach. He is joined by Alexander Mutiso Munyao, the 2024 London Marathon champion, who brings a personal best of 2:03:11 into his Tokyo debut.
Ethiopia is led by Tadese Takele, the defending Tokyo Marathon champion after his 2:03:23 victory in 2025, and Milkesa Mengesha, winner of both the Berlin and Shanghai Marathons. Their presence ensures sustained pace at the front of the race.
One of the most anticipated athletes in the field is Selemon Barega, Olympic gold medalist in the 10,000 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Barega continues his transition to the marathon following success at the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon.
Italy’s Iliass Aouani, bronze medalist at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025, adds championship experience, while athletes such as Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, Daniel Mateiko, and Seifu Tura contribute to the depth and unpredictability of the race.
Japan’s elite contingent is led by Suguru Osako, who set a new Japanese national record of 2:04:55 at the Valencia Marathon. He is joined by former national record holder Kengo Suzuki, along with Ryota Kondo, Tsubasa Ichiyama, Naoki Koyama, and Aoi Ota, giving the host nation a strong presence within the main race dynamics.
Tokyo Marathon 2026 Women’s Elite Field Preview
The women’s elite race is anchored by champions and record holders from Ethiopia and Kenya, alongside a strong Japanese presence.
Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa enters Tokyo following her victory at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, where she ran 2:14:57 — one of the fastest women’s marathon times in the world last year.
She will face stiff competition from Sutume Asefa Kebede, who returns aiming for a third consecutive Tokyo Marathon title after setting the course record of 2:15:55.
Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, the former women’s marathon world record holder, continues her return to top form, while Rosemary Wanjiru, the Tokyo Marathon 2023 champion and 2025 Berlin Marathon winner, adds consistency and championship experience.
Additional contenders include Megertu Alemu, Bertukan Welde, Mestawut Fikir, and American standout Sara Hall.
Japanese fans will closely follow Ai Hosoda, who has announced her retirement but is targeting a strong performance rather than a ceremonial farewell. She is joined by Yumi Yoshikawa and Chicako Mori.
Tokyo Marathon 2026 Wheelchair Elite Field Preview
The Tokyo Marathon remains one of the premier events on the wheelchair marathon racing calendar, and the 2026 edition features one of its deepest fields yet.
In the men’s wheelchair race, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug returns as the dominant force in the sport, challenged by David Weir, Jin Hua, Luo Xingchuan, and Japan’s Tomoki Suzuki, the Tokyo Marathon 2025 champion.
The women’s wheelchair race features multiple champions, including Manuela Schär, Susannah Scaroni, and Catherine Debrunner, alongside a strong Japanese contingent led by Tsubasa Nakamine and Wakako Tsuchida.
Tokyo Marathon 2026 Elite Start Lists (Country & Personal Bests)
Elite Men
Timothy Kiplagat (KEN) – 2:02:55Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) – 2:03:11
Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (KEN) – 2:03:13Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) – 2:03:17
Tadese Takele (ETH) – 2:03:23Geoffrey Toroitich (KEN) – 2:03:30
Dawit Wolde (ETH) – 2:03:48Daniel Mateiko (KEN) – 2:04:24
Seifu Tura (ETH) – 2:04:29Chalu Deso (ETH) – 2:04:53
Suguru Osako (JPN) – 2:04:55Kengo Suzuki (JPN) – 2:04:56
Selemon Barega (ETH) – 2:05:15Shifera Tamru (ETH) – 2:05:18
Cameron Levins (CAN) – 2:05:36Suldan Hassan (SWE) – 2:05:57
Muktar Edris (ETH) – 2:05:59Iliass Aouani (ITA) – 2:06:06
Ryota Kondo (JPN) – 2:05:39Tsubasa Ichiyama (JPN) – 2:06:00
Naoki Koyama (JPN) – 2:06:33Simon Kariuki (KEN) – 2:06:29
Kazuya Nishiyama (JPN) – 2:06:45Derese Workneh (ETH) – 2:06:58
Githae Michael (KEN) – 2:07:08Masato Arao (JPN) – 2:07:42
Yusuke Tamura (JPN) – 2:07:38Koki Takada (JPN) – 2:07:57
Aoi Ota (JPN) – 2:08:31Vincent Yegon (KEN) – 1:00:39 (Half Marathon)
Elite Women
Hawi Feysa (ETH) – 2:14:57Brigid Kosgei (KEN) – 2:14:04
Sutume Asefa Kebede (ETH) – 2:15:55Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) – 2:16:14
Megertu Alemu (ETH) – 2:16:34Bertukan Welde (ETH) – 2:17:56
Mestawut Fikir (ETH) – 2:18:48Mekides Shimeles (ETH) – 2:19:56
Aberu Ayana (ETH) – 2:20:20Waganesh Mekasha (ETH) – 2:20:26
Sara Hall (USA) – 2:20:32Ai Hosoda (JPN) – 2:20:31
Azmera Gebru (ETH) – 2:20:48Viola Cheptoo (KEN) – 2:21:40
Pascalia Jepkogei (KEN) – 2:22:47Yumi Yoshikawa (JPN) – 2:25:20
Chicako Mori (JPN) – 2:25:20Grace Loibach Nawowuna (KEN) – 1:06:31 (Half Marathon)
Elite Wheelchair Men
Marcel Hug (SUI) – 1:15:33
Jin Hua (CHN) – 1:18:31Tomoki Suzuki (JPN) – 1:19:14
Luo Xingchuan (CHN) – 1:21:55David Weir (GBR) – 1:22:12
Jetze Plat (NED) – 1:24:28Sho Watanabe (JPN) – 1:24:00
Geert Schipper (NED) – 1:26:51Hiroki Kishizawa (JPN) – 1:28:04
Samuel Rizzo (AUS) – 1:31:11Hiroki Nishida (JPN) – 1:31:03
Elite Wheelchair Women
Manuela Schär (SUI) – 1:28:17
Susannah Scaroni (USA) – 1:30:42Catherine Debrunner (SUI) – 1:34:16
Eden Rainbow-Cooper (GBR) – 1:34:17Tsubasa Nakamine (JPN) – 1:35:50
Wakako Tsuchida (JPN) – 1:35:56Zhou Zhaoqian (CHN) – 1:37:46
Vanessa de Souza (BRA) – 1:39:55Patricia Eachus (SUI) – 1:40:00
Stay tuned to Marathon Journal for exclusive athlete interviews and our deep dive into the Wheelchair and Para Athletics Divisions next.
