Kenya’s best showing came from Kennedy Kimutai, who crossed in 16th at 2:11:45, just ahead of Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, 22nd in 2:13:38.
After a gruelling 42 kilometers through the streets of Tokyo, the 2025 men’s World Marathon title was decided in the most dramatic fashion—on the final kick, the final stride, and a photo finish.
By the end of the race, Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu clinched gold for the very first time in his nation’s history, edging out Germany’s Amanal Petros in a dramatic last-minute dash.
Both men were credited with the same time of 2:09:48, but Simbu’s lean at the tape secured the victory by mere hundredths of a second.
The top three contenders stormed into the Tokyo Stadium together, but it was the final 500 meters that proved decisive. Simbu and Petros broke away, leaving Italy’s Iliass Aouani to settle for bronze in 2:09:53, a performance that nonetheless delivered a new national milestone for Italy.
For Uganda, Abel Chelangat impressed with a strong 5th-place finish in 2:10:11, while Victor Kiplangat followed in 15th with a season’s best of 2:11:33.
Kenya’s best showing came from Kennedy Kimutai, who crossed in 16th at 2:11:45, just ahead of Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, 22nd in 2:13:38.
For Alphonce Simbu, this victory felt inevitable. The Tanzanian had been edging closer to the top for years, having claimed bronze at the 2017 World Championships in London and finishing runner-up at the Boston Marathon this past April.
The race unfolded with drama from the very start as it had to be restarted after Kenya’s Vincent Ng’etich jumped the gun.
Along the way, Ethiopia’s highly fancied pair—Tadese Takele and Deresa Geleta, the gold and silver medalists from the Tokyo City Marathon in March—were among the early casualties, fading with less than 10 kilometers remaining.
- Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) – 2:09:48 SB
- Amanal Petros (GER) – 2:09:48
- Iliass Aouani (ITA) – 2:09:53
- Haimro Alame (ISR) – 2:10:03
- Abel Chelangat (UGA) – 2:10:11
- Yohanes Chiappinelli (ITA) – 2:10:15 SB
- Gashau Ayale (ISR) – 2:10:27
- Samsom Amare (ERI) – 2:10:34
- Clayton Young (USA) – 2:10:43 SB
- Isaac Mpofu (ZIM) – 2:10:46 SB
- Ryota Kondo (JPN) – 2:10:53
- Cameron Levins (CAN) – 2:11:07 SB
- Richard Ringer (GER) – 2:11:14
- Suldan Hassan (SWE) – 2:11:18
- Victor Kiplangat (UGA) – 2:11:33 SB
- Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) – 2:11:45
- Koen Naert (BEL) – 2:12:52
- Abderrazak Charik (ALG) – 2:13:06 SB
- Kaan Kigen ÖzbilEN (TUR) – 2:13:27
- Mohamed Reda El Aaraby (MAR) – 2:13:29
- Yaseen Abdalla (SUD) – 2:13:32 SB
- Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (KEN) – 2:13:38
- Naoki Koyama (JPN) – 2:13:42
- Peter Lynch (IRL) – 2:14:12
- Ebba Tulu Chala (SWE) – 2:14:40