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Reiko Tosa to Appear At Matsue Ladies Half Marathon

http://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/sports/modules/news/article.php?storyid=499933094

translated by Brett Larner

On Feb. 6 the organizing committee of the 29th Matsue Ladies Half Marathon released the names of the invited field for this year's event. Appearing at the race is Reiko Tosa (Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo), who will be running the women's marathon at this summer's Beijing Olympics. The winner of January's Osaka International Women's Marathon, Mara Yamauchi (Second Wind AC; U.K.), and 2nd place finisher in the 2006 Tokyo International Women's Marathon Akemi Ozaki (Second Wind AC) are also entered. Yamauchi and Ozaki will be racing in the half marathon, while Tosa will be appearing as a guest runner in the girls' 10 km event.

The race will take place in Matsue on Mar. 16 in front of Matsue Castle and includes 4 events: a nationally-certified official half marathon and 10 km, a 10 km for girls aged 16 or older, a 2.5 km elementary school girls' and boys' race, and a childrens' 1 km.

Yamauchi was 2nd in last year's half marathon. She recorded a PB of 2:25:10 in the Osaka International Women's Marathon and will be representing the U.K. at this summer's Beijing Olympics. Tosa is appearing in Matsue for the 4th straight year after qualifying for the Beijing Olympics by winning a bronze medal at last summer's World Championships. Ozaki was 4th at last year's Tokyo International Women's Marathon.

This year's race is also the 11th Japan Student Women's Half Marathon championships. 2 runners from Matsue will be competing. Entry for any of the events is open until Feb. 15. For more information please call race headquarters at 0852-22-7607.

Translator's note: Reiko Tosa has still not raced since qualifying for the Beijing Olympics last summer. She suffered health problems throughout the fall, but has a history of recovering from setbacks in time for major events.

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