Workenesh Edesa defended her title at the Osaka Women’s Marathon

Ethiopian runner Workenesh Edesa defended her title at the Osaka Women’s Marathon on Sunday. The course record holder, who triumphed last year in 2:18:51 hours, won this year’s edition of the race in 2:21:00 hours. Japanese women took the other two places on the podium. Kana Kobayashi finished second with a personal best (2:21:19 hours), and Yuka Suzuki came in third with a personal best (2:21:33 hours).

“I’m happy to have defended my 2024 title. My goal is to improve my personal best”, said the winner Workenesh Edesa after the race.

Workenesh Edesa also is the 2023 Tokyo Marathon bronze medalist and in 2024 set a new course record to win the Sydney Marathon, running 2:21:40 hours. It was also the fastest woman’s marathon time ever set on Australian soil. “My goal was to meet the World Championship standard and run under 2:23. I’m surprised I did so well. The fans on the track encouraged me, telling me that the leader was keeping up the pace, which gave me the strength to push”, said the silver medalist Kana Kobayashi.