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Osaka Top Japanese and Olympic Hopeful Tomo Morimoto On Hold Until Nagoya

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20080128-OHT1T00072.htm
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/chugoku/okayama/080129/oky0801290224004-n1.htm
http://www.okanichi.co.jp/20080129122320.html
http://www.okanichi.co.jp/20080129122635.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner

At the Osaka International Women's Marathon on Jan. 27, 2nd place overall finisher Tomo Morimoto (24, Team Tenmaya) couldn't quite secure a position on the Beijing Olympic team. Although she couldn't move with eventual winner Mara Yamauchi's breakaway at 32 km, Morimoto didn't lose any additional ground over the final 9 km. Describing her race, Morimoto said, "I was watching the breathing of the runners around me, and at 30 km I took off. I was a little weak mentally this time, though and couldn't keep my own race together. That's why my time was not what I wanted."

Morimoto was the top Japanese finisher in 2:25:34, off her target time of 2:22-23. "I'm very happy to have been the top Japanese in an Olympic selection race," Morimoto commented after the race. "The Nagoya selection race is still coming up and I know that it will be hard to make the Olympics with the time I ran here, but I'm going to train with the assumption that I will be selected. I'm trying not to think about it and to just focus on doing what I need to do to recover from this marathon quickly and get on with my training." Team Tenmaya coach Yutaka Taketomi detailed Morimoto's preparation schedule, including a long, intensive training camp on Amami Oshima. "We will be focusing on improving her speed until after the official Olympic team selection is made."

Among the scheduled entrants at Nagoya are Morimoto's Team Tenmaya teammates Naoko Sakamoto and Yurika Nakamura. For Morimoto, "It would be wonderful if Tenmaya had a team member in the Olympics for the 3rd time in a row, but of course, for myself they are still my rivals. I want to reach my own dream."

On Jan. 29 Morimoto attended an award ceremony where she was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Okayama Prefecture Governor Masahiro Ishii. "I couldn't reach my goal of winning, but I'm proud to still be in contention for the Olympics," Morimoto said during her speech. Addressing the assembled crowd, Governor Ishii told Morimoto, "I look forward to hearing good news in March. Please take care of yourself while recovering and do your best during your spring training."

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