Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang wins the Tokyo Marathon as Sarah Chepchirchir triumphs in the women's race

Runners at the start of the Tokyo Marathon 2017. REUTERS

Kenya's Wilson Kipsang stormed to victory in the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday in the fastest race ever run in Japan.

The former world record holder clocked 2 hours 3 minutes 58 seconds over a flatter course than in previous years as he added the Tokyo title to victories in London, New York and Berlin.

Sarah Chepchirchir won the women's race in a personal best 2:19:47 - the first sub-2:20 in Japan - to complete a perfect day for Kenya.

The top six men's finishers were all Kenyans with Gideon Kipketer runner-up in 2:05:51 and former winner Dickson Chumba third in 2:06:25.

Evans Chebet (2:06:42), Alfers Lagat (2:07:39) and Bernard Kipyego (2:08:10) all finished ahead of Eritrean Yohanes Gebregergish, who clocked 2:08:14 to edge out Japan's Hiroto Inoue.

Kipsang had targeted countryman Dennis Kimetto's world record of 2:02:57.