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Japanese Marathon Record Holder Takaoka to Run Himejijo Road Race

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sports/0000826157.shtml

translated by Brett Larner

Japanese national full marathon record holder Toshinari Takaoka (Team Kanebo) will be running in the 10 mile (16.093 km) Himejijo Road Race on Feb. 11 in Himeji, sponsored in part by the Kobe Newspaper Group. Takaoka joined the Himejijo lineup on Feb. 4 following the cancellation of the Ome Marathon 30 km due to heavy snowfall. Takaoka had planned to run Ome as part of his preparation for a spring marathon.

Originally from Kitsugawa in Kyoto Prefecture, Takaoka ran track events in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, finishing 7th in the men's 10000 m in Sydney. At the 2002 Chicago Marathon he set the Japanese national record of 2:06:16. He also holds the national record for 3000 m and 10000 m. Takaoka attempted to qualify for the Beijing Olympics at last December's Fukuoka International Marathon but finished 10th. Many have wondered where he would go next.

Also scheduled to run Himejijo are Satoshi Osaki (Team NTT Nishi Nihon) who was 6th in last summer's World Championships men's marathon, and 2005 Helsinki World Championships men's marathon competitor Michitaka Hosokawa (Team Otsuka Seiyaku, Akashi Minami High School, Kyoto Sangyo University). Takaoka's addition to lineup adds dramatically to the event's excitement.

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