Tokyo Marathon was a breakthrough race for Winfridah Moseti, who secured second place and credited her husband’s support for her success.
Winfridah Moraa Moseti has made her mark on the global marathon stage with an impressive second-place finish at the 2025 Tokyo Marathon.
In a fiercely competitive race, the 29-year-old Kenyan runner clocked 2:16:28, securing a podium finish behind Ethiopia’s Sutuma Asefe Kebede, who won in 2:16:31. Another Ethiopian, Hawi Feysa, followed closely in third with a time of 2:17:00.
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But for Moseti, this achievement was more than just a personal victory—it was a testament to the unwavering support of her husband and coach, Joshua Ongori.
“I’m so excited to have emerged second in my first major marathon. Special thanks go to my husband, who gave me full support and guidance during my preparations because if I was doing it alone, I couldn’t have made it,” Moseti said as per Daily Nation.
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Throughout her training journey, Ongori has played an instrumental role, not only as a spouse but also as a mentor and strategist.
His guidance, along with the expertise of her coaches Peter Bii and Thomas Potzinger of Mezzo Athletics Management, proved to be the backbone of Moseti’s breakthrough performance on the grand stage.
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The race itself was a battle of endurance and tactical brilliance. Moseti, who trained in the high-altitude region of Iten, remained composed even after the designated pacemakers dropped out at the 30-kilometer mark.
“When the pacemakers dropped because they were pacing up to 30km, I decided to run my race,” she said.
“I had one lady who was running alongside me until the 41km mark, but I decided to make the final push, edged her out, and secured second place.”
Despite her strong finish, Moseti admitted she had doubts before the race. Standing at the starting line, surrounded by seasoned elites with faster personal bests, she felt a moment of intimidation.
“While we were lining up, I was scared looking at my fellow elite runners because their personal best times were higher than mine,” she confessed.
“I asked myself, ‘Will I really make it to the podium?’ I decided to run my race, and it worked out well for me.”
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Her journey to marathon success has been one of dedication, perseverance, and key decisions. Moseti began her running career in Kisii before moving to Iten in 2021—a shift that she believes has been instrumental in her recent performances. Training at high altitude refined her endurance, giving her the strength to challenge top-tier competition.
Now ranked as Kenya’s sixth-fastest female marathoner of all time, Moseti has set her sights on an even bigger goal: representing Kenya at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
“If given a chance to represent my country, I will be glad because it’s a global event and prestigious to compete at that level,” she said.
Her Tokyo Marathon podium finish adds to an impressive resume that has seen her steadily rise through the marathon ranks.
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She has now competed in seven major marathons, placing ninth in Milan, fourth in Rome, fifth in Paris, second in Frankfurt, and third in both Hamburg and Amsterdam.