Sutume Asefa Kebede Defends Her Tokyo Title
On Athlete Sutume Asefa Kebede becomes the first woman to win back-to-back titles in Tokyo
TOKYO, Japan - March 2, 2025 - Leading from start to finish, On athlete Sutume Asefa Kebede successfully defended her Tokyo title, crossing the finish line in a time of 02:16.31, ahead of Winfridah Moseti (KEN) and Hawi Feysa (ETH).
Known for its flat, fast course, the marathon took the 38,000 runners through the city, showcasing all that Tokyo has to offer. The last two winners of the marathon, Sutume Kebede (2024) and Rosemary Wanjiru (2023) found themselves amongst the 38,000 runners at the start line at the Tokyo Metropolitan Building.
With temperatures reaching around 20 degrees during the race, it was far from ideal for the ideal scneario for the elite runners. From the start gun, it became clear that Kebede was there to win and wasn’t going to let the weather affect her. She seperated herslef from the rest of the group, creating a gap that reached to nearly two minutes at the 25 kilometre mark. In the last kilometers the gap dwindled, but Kebede kept a 25 second lead as she claimed her second title in the Japanese capital.
Speaking on her title defense, Kebede said:
"To win again in Tokyo, it's a dream come true. I felt strong, focused, and determined. Today, I ran for everyone who has supported me on this journey."
Niklas Bühner, Athlete Manager at On, watched on as Sutume defended her title:
"Sutume's dedication and resilience are truly inspiring. To see her defend her title in Tokyo is a testament to her unwavering commitment. We're incredibly proud of her achievement and couldn’t be happier for her.”
Kebede has established herself as one of Ethopia’s top runners, winning the Marathon in Bejing in 2019, claiming silver in Seoul in 2022 and a third place finish in Tokoy in 2020. She returned to Tokoy in 2024 to claim the title in a new course record and PB of 2:15.55, and ranks withing the top ten fastest female runners in the world. Kebede joined the On Athlete Team in 2024 ahead of the marathon in Chicago, where she placed second.
Kebede's dominance extends beyond full marathons. In 2024, she recorded a new personal best in the half marathon in Houston, crossing the finish line in 1:04:37, the ninth-fastest time ever in women’s history and the fastest half marathon recorded in North America. In 2023, she set a new world best time for a 25-kilometer race in Kolkata, India.
About On
On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fifteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® and LightSpray™ innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.
On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.