Former world record holder Paula Radcliffe, aged 51, runs first marathon in 10 years

Former world record holder Paula Radcliffe on Sunday took part in her first competitive marathon in 10 years. The 51-year-old Radcliffe finished the Tokyo Marathon with a timing of 2:57:26.

Her last competitive marathon was in London in 2015 where she had finished 19th.

British long-distance runner Radcliffe held the women’s marathon world record from 2003 to 2019 with a timing of 2:15:25 until it was bettered by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei. She thrice won both, the London Marathon and the New York Marathon, during her illustrious career. She is also a one-time Chicago Marathon winner and a former world champion.

Radcliffe also plans to participate in next month’s Boston Marathon in order to achieve her goal of competing in all six major marathons (London, Boston, Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago and New York).

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She recently told The Athletics Weekly, “I turned 50 last year, am now 51, and thinking about the goals I’ve got left one of those was always to tick off the six marathon majors.

“For most of my career it was five and then Tokyo was added so I never really had the opportunity to race Tokyo. And Boston I never did because it was so close to London.”

Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede defended her title in the women’s race, finishing in 2:16:31.

Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti was second in 2:16:56, with Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa third in 2:17:00.

In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele won the title in 2:03:23. Deresa Geleta, Takele’s compatriot, was second in 2:03:51 while Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich was third in 2:04:00.

Double Olympic track champion Joshua Cheptegei finished ninth in 2:05:59 while Benson Kipruto of Kenya, last year’s men’s champion, was sixth in 2:05:46.

(With inputs from AFP)