That is mind-boggling. Same age as Joan Benoit (2:22 lifetime) and she's tried sub3 a few times after 60, including in vaporflys, very close but didn't break it.
People don't grasp how old 60+ is when you are 20 or 30 something. Japan had accurate birth certificates 60 years ago yes? Not "age doping" ? Just a few years off would make a big difference.
It's one thing do to it around 50 years old when some women have late menopause but after 60 there is no way that's avoided, except there is a rare genetic variation where some women get increased testosterone post-menopause while estrogen stops, perfect combo, maybe, but she doesn't "look it".
I wonder what her resting vs max heartrate is and what marathon pace HR is for her.
Is the course out/back or looped? It wasn't wind-aided right?
(even alphas can't take 4 minutes off vapors like her previous record)
Jenny Hitchings ran 2:50 at NYC 2019 at 55, if she can lose only a minute a year she's got it for sure, don't think there are any other American women right now that can do it but vaporflys change everything so we'll see.
pre-vaporflys sub3 was never done
https://www.arrs.run/Veterans/VR5_Mara.htm