By Paul Osborne

Kenya's Dickson Chumba finished first in the men's race at the 2014 Tokyo Marathon in a new course record ©Getty ImagesFebruary 23 - Two course records fell in the 2014 Tokyo Marathon today as Kenya's Dickson Chumba and Ethiopia's Tirfi Tsegaye won their first World Marathon Major event titles.


Chumba's victory in 2 hours 5min 42sec moves him up into a six-way tie for fourth place in the 2013-2014 World Marathon Major series, whilst Tsegaye's win saw her surge from 24th to fourth in standings.

More than 36,000 athletes crossed the start line in eighth edition of the Tokyo Marathon - the second of its reign as a World Marathon Major - in conditions which proved perfect for the runners.

Chumba broke his own personal best time of 2:05:46, set during his win at the Eindhoven Marathon in 2012, to better the men's course record, set by Kenya's Dennis Kimetto last year, by more than a minute.

The Kenyan was not amongst the favourites coming into the race with a seventh place finish in Boston last year his highest finish in a World Marathon Major.

This did not faze the Kenyan as he began pushing the pace at the 30 kilometre mark hoping to break up the 12-strong pack of athletes as they made their way into the final third of the race.

By the 35km mark the pack was down to six, and five kilometres later, with Chumba in charge, the only athlete hanging on was Ethiopia's World Championship bronze medalist Tadese Tola.

Chumba continued to surge into the final stages of the race, building a lead of 15 seconds over Tola as he came crashing over the finish line.

Third place fell to fellow Kenyan Sammy Kitwara as the two African countries swept the top seven places in the men's race.

A late surge from Ethiopia's Tirfi Tsegaye saw her break the track record by more than three minutes in the women's race ©AFP/Getty ImagesA late surge from Ethiopia's Tirfi Tsegaye saw her break the track record by more than three minutes in the women's race ©AFP/Getty Images



The two nations continued to dominate in the women's race as Tsegaye fought back in the last 500 metres to edge past fellow Ethopian Birhane Dibaba to finish more than three minutes quicker than the previous course record in 2:22:23.

Race favourite Lucy Kaboo led the Kenyan contingent as she finished third ahead of Caroline Rotich and World Marathon Major rookie Janet Rono.

The World Marathon Major series will resume in London on April 13 before heading to Boston on April 21.

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