Kiplagat, Loibach headline Kenyans announced as late scratches for weekend's Tokyo Marathon
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 27.02.26. | 17:25
The race organizers on Friday published a list of latest withdrawals and new entrants
A total of seven Kenyan athletes will not take part in this weekend’s 2026 Tokyo Marathon scheduled for Sunday, 1 March.
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This comes after the race organizers on Friday, 27 February published a list of withdrawals and new entries for the World Athletics Platinum Label road event in the Japanese capital.
Among those missing is Timothy Kiplagat, who as per the organizers, withdrew due to injury.
小山直城と西山和弥が欠場、登録最速タイムのキプラガト、メンゲシャも故障のため回避／東京マラソン
— 月陸Online／月刊陸上競技 (@Getsuriku) February 17, 2026
男子は日本記録保持者の大迫傑を筆頭に、鈴木健吾、近藤亮太らが出場予定となっている。#東京マラソン
｜月陸Online https://t.co/R7ACpfQYgm
Kiplagat, who finished second at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon with a personal best time of 2:02.55, had been among the big headlines for this year’s race, given he was the fastest in the field that will now bring together 109 elite men athletes.
Kiplagat’s aforementioned time put him ahead of the Kenyan duo of Alexander Mutiso and Vincent Kipkemoi, who will all look to unseat the defending champion Tadese Takele.
Also dropping out from the men’s leaders is the fourth fastest man in the field - Milkesa Mengesha - who is also a late scratch due to injury.
Joining Kiplagat in those absent from the Kenyan camp are: Michael Githae, Raymond Kipchumba Choge, Daniel Muivakitonyi, Justus Kagongo, and would-be debutant Vincent Yegon.
While Yegon and Githae are listed out due to injury, the race organizers stated that Choge and Kagongo declined to take part, with Muivakitonyi citing lack of training.
Another Kenyan athlete also set to miss a marathon debut is Grace Loibach Nawowuna, who has has been ruled out with injury.
Loibach, a 10km national trials winner in 2022, was set to be in a group of Kenyan lead athletes including former champion Rosemary Wanjiru and Brigid Kosgei in a bid to reclaim the titles won by Sutume Kebede in 2024 and 2025.
The only Kenyan added in Sunday’s list is little-known Clinton Ktum, who comes in with a half-marathon personal best of 1:05.03, set in Belgut last year.