Agnes Jebet Ng’etich crosses the finish line at the Tokyo Legacy Half-Marathon on October 18, 2026.
Alexander Mutiso Munyao and Agnes Jebet Ng’etich set course records as Kenyan runners claim five of six podium places in Japan.
President William Ruto has congratulated Kenyan athletes after their record-breaking victories at the 2026 Tokyo Legacy Half-Marathon in Japan. Kenya swept the men’s podium and also claimed first and second places in the women’s race.
Alexander Mutiso Munyao and Agnes Jebet Ng’etich led the Kenyan team with course-record wins on Sunday, October 18. Their performances helped Kenya secure five of the six available podium places.
Ruto praised the team for its victories and record-breaking performances, celebrating both the men’s sweep and the women’s success. He also congratulated the athletes for their achievements on the international stage.
Tokyo Legacy Half-Marathon delivers two course records
Mutiso won the men’s title in 59 minutes and 51 seconds, improving the previous course record by one second. The 2024 London Marathon champion finished five seconds ahead of fellow Kenyan Kiprono Sitonik.
Sitonik took second place in 59:56, setting a personal best. Meanwhile, James Mutuku completed the Kenyan podium sweep in 1:00:08, also recording his fastest time over the distance.
Alongside Mutiso’s course record, the two personal bests added to Kenya’s success in the men’s contest. All three podium finishers crossed the line within 17 seconds of one another.
In the women’s race, Ng’etich won in 1:04:23, cutting more than three minutes from the previous course record. Her victory secured Kenya’s second title of the day.
Tabitha Njeri Kamau followed in second place with a time of 1:08:28. However, Japan’s Kazuna Kanetomo prevented another Kenyan podium sweep, finishing third in a personal best of 1:10:17.
Mvurya celebrates Mutiso and Ng’etich
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya praised Mutiso’s performance, highlighting his continued success in international competition. He also noted the narrow improvement that gave the London Marathon champion a new course record.
Mvurya celebrated Ng’etich’s victory as another major achievement following her triumph at the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships. That competition took place in Copenhagen, Denmark.
He highlighted the scale of her course-record improvement in Tokyo and praised her growing collection of international titles. Both winners therefore left the event with titles and new course marks.
Murkomen praises Kenya’s podium finishers
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also congratulated Mutiso and Ng’etich on their victories and record-breaking runs. His message extended to Kamau, Sitonik and Mutuku for their podium finishes.
Murkomen described the results as a source of national pride. The Tokyo event, now in its fifth edition, brought Kenyan runners into competition with international rivals.
