Kenyan athletes dominated the fifth edition of the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon on Sunday, October 18, with Agnes Ngetich and Alexander Mutiso Munyao both winning in course-record times on the streets of the Japanese capital.

Ngetich in a class of her own

Ngetich, the Kenyan record holder over the distance, won the women's race in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 23 seconds. That carved roughly three minutes off the previous course record of 1:07:27, set by compatriot Loice Chemnung in 2024, according to Athletics Kenya.

Her winning margin underlined the gulf in class. Tabitha Njeri Kamau completed a Kenyan one-two in 1:08:28, more than four minutes behind, while Japan's Kazuna Kanetomo was third in 1:10:17.

Ngetich said the time came as a surprise given the nature of the route.

"It was a hard course, it was hilly and had lots of sharp corners," Ngetich said, as quoted by Athletics Kenya.

Ngetich made a stunning half-marathon debut in Valencia in 2024, clocking 1:03:04, a national record and the second-fastest time in history behind Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey's 1:02:52. She returned to win in Valencia in 2025 in 1:03:08. Athletics Kenya noted that she arrived in Tokyo on the back of victory at last month's World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, where she set a women-only world record of 1:05:15.

Mutiso wins by a whisker

The men's race was far tighter. Mutiso, who also competes as Alexander Munyao, held off Kiprono Sitonik to win in 59 minutes and 51 seconds, just one second inside the course record of 59:52 set by fellow Kenyan Amos Kurgat in 2024. Sitonik finished five seconds back in 59:56.

James Mutuku took third in 1:00:08 and Amos Kiprotich was fourth in 1:00:11, completing a Kenyan sweep of the top four places in the men's race. Only 20 seconds separated the winner from the fourth-placed finisher, a measure of how closely contested the men's race was at the front.

"I feel good for the win today," Mutiso said after the race, according to Athletics Kenya.

Mutiso is better known for his marathon exploits and is also the reigning Great North Run champion in England, making Sunday's record a reminder of his pedigree over the shorter distance.

Another Kenyan weekend on the roads

The Tokyo results capped a productive weekend for Kenyan road runners. Elsewhere on Sunday, Charles Matata set a new course record at the Delhi Half Marathon, The Eastleigh Voice reported.

The Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon, first held in 2022 as part of the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, starts and finishes at the National Stadium and has quickly become a favoured autumn stop for East African half-marathon specialists. Sunday's twin records make Kenya the holders of both course bests.

Photos: Agnes Ngetich and Alexander Mutiso at the finish, via The Eastleigh Voice.