Tanzania's Alphonce Felix Simbu Wins World Championship Marathon

Simbu Makes History with Marathon Gold

Alphonce Felix Simbu makes history with thrilling marathon win at World Championships, edging out Amanal Petros in dramatic finish.

“I have never seen something like this in the marathon - both the men and women's races came down to a sprint...”

Alphonce Felix Simbu made history at the World Championships in Tokyo by winning the marathon gold medal, a feat that marks him as Tanzania's first-ever gold medalist in the prestigious event. Simbu's winning time was 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 48 seconds, a mere three-hundredths of a second ahead of Germany's Amanal Petros, who clocked the same time. The finish was dramatic, with Simbu pulling off a remarkable dip at the line to secure the top spot.

“I made history today - the first Tanzanian gold medal at a world championships,” Simbu said after his remarkable win. This achievement is a testament to his hard work and dedication, especially considering his bronze medal win at the 2017 World Championships in London. Italy's Iliass Aouani took the bronze medal with a time of 2:09:53, just 5 seconds behind the leaders.

A total of 88 athletes from 47 countries gathered in Tokyo for the demanding marathon, which spanned 26 miles (42km). However, the hot and humid morning conditions proved challenging for many participants.

Twenty-two runners were unable to complete the race. One notable dropout was Ethiopia's Tadese Takele, who exited the race at the 33km mark. He stopped his watch and climbed over a barrier onto the pavement, appearing to be in discomfort.

Takele Tadese claimed victory in the Tokyo Marathon, completing the 42.2km distance in an impressive 2:03:23. This win positioned him as a top contender for the marathon at the World Championships. However, in a surprising turn of events, his teammate Deresa Geleta, who finished second in the Tokyo Marathon with a time of 2:03:51, struggled in the World Championships, pulling out at the 35.5km mark.

Meanwhile, Uganda's Abel Chelangat played a crucial role in shaping the race dynamics. He paced a significant portion of the event and orchestrated a decisive break at the 39.5km mark. This move fragmented the lead pack, ultimately narrowing it down to five runners. Notably, all three medalists emerged from this group, highlighting the strategic importance of Chelangat's pacing. The intense competition saw Tanzania's Alphonce Felix Simbu take the gold medal in the men's marathon at the World Championships, edging out Amanal Petros and Iliass Aouani, who claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

As the leaders approached the stadium, Uganda's Abel Chelangat and Ethiopian-born Israeli runner Haimro Alame struggled to keep pace and were dropped from the leading group. This left Amanal Petros of Germany to lead the trio onto the track for an intense final 300 meters.

The final stretch proved thrilling, with Petros opening up a gap down the back straight. However, Alphonce Felix Simbu, who had finished second at this year's Boston Marathon with a time of 2:05:05, closely tracked Petros. Meanwhile, Italy's Iliass Aouani trailed slightly behind in third place, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

As Amanal Petros approached the finish line, he seemed poised to claim victory. However, Alphonce Felix Simbu launched a final sprint, catching Petros off guard. The German athlete glanced nervously over his shoulder as Simbu closed in, his legs visibly tightening up.

In a stunning turn of events, Simbu's persistence paid off as he edged past Petros at the line. The 33-year-old Tanzanian athlete crossed the finish just ahead, while Petros, who had appeared in control, tumbled to the floor in disappointment.

“I have never seen something like this in the marathon - both the men and women's races came down to a sprint finish. It's like the 100m!” said Petros.

“Coming into the finish I was thinking about winning so a bit of me is feeling very sad. I'm sad I lost gold in the last three metres but I am very happy also for Simbu.”

Uganda's defending champion Victor Kiplangat had a lackluster performance, finishing 11th in the marathon with a time of 2:11:33. This is a significant drop from his winning time of 2:08:53 in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he outpaced his competitors with a strong finish.

In the 400m hurdles, Femke Bol dominated her heat and is now the clear favorite to defend her title. With American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opting to compete in the 400m flat event instead, Bol's path to victory has been cleared. The semi-finals are scheduled for Wednesday, and the final will take place on Friday.

Katie Moon, the two-time defending world champion and Olympic gold medalist from Tokyo 2021, has qualified for the women's pole vault final alongside 13 other athletes. All 14 competitors successfully cleared the 4.60m mark, showcasing their impressive skills. Moon will be joined in the final by her teammates Sandi Morris and Hana Moll, setting the stage for a thrilling competition.

What was that?!? 🤯

🇹🇿 Alphonce Felix Simbu snatched gold right on the line from Amanal Petros to give Tanzania its maiden World Athletics Championships title 🥇#WCHTokyo25 #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/6Ri8deOIW7

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) September 15, 2025

The women's pole vault competition has seen notable absentees due to injuries. Former world indoor champion Molly Caudery of Great Britain withdrew from the event after sustaining an ankle injury during warm-up. Additionally, reigning Olympic champion Nina Kennedy of Australia did not participate due to a strained leg muscle, which she suffered after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Upcoming Final

The final is scheduled for Wednesday, where Moon will aim to defend her title and continue her dominance in the sport. Given her past achievements, including winning gold medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships, Moon is certainly a contender to watch.