Tokyo Marathon defending women's champion Rosemary Wanjiru faces a tough test in her bid to defend the title on March 3.
In the elite list released on Wednesday, Wanjiru who won the event in 2:16:28 will be up against race favourite and Chicago Marathon champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands. Sifan has the second fastest time of all time at 2:13:44.
Others to look out for include Ethiopia's Amane Shankule ((2:14:58) and 2020 winner Lornah Salpeter of Israel.
Wanjiru finished second in the 2022 Berlin Marathon in 2:18:00. She finished sixth in the marathon at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary last year in 2:26:42.
Wanjiru, who was named in the provisional marathon squad for the Paris Olympics, said the title defence will be key if she is to make the final squad to the Olympics.
“I'm training hard to ensure I defend my title. I am crossing my fingers I make the team for Paris,” added Wanjiru.
She said she is ready to face the likes of Hassan, Ethiopia's Shankule, and other top marathoners in what promises to be a competitive event.
” It will be a good race. I have good memories of winning last year and am ready to face the best,” she noted.
Two-time Olympic Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge will be the star attraction in the men's category as he seeks to win for the second time after 2021 in 2:02:40.
He has happy memories of the Japanese capital after winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2:08.38
He faces stiff competition from compatriot Vincent Kipkemboi who has a personal best of 2:03:13 from the 2023 Berlin Marathon, where he finished second.
Timothy Kiplagat will also be one of the athletes to watch with a personal best of 2:03:50 set at the Rotterdam Marathon last year.
