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Kobe Women's Half Marathon Announces Elite Field

by Brett Larner

The organizing committee of the 2008 Kobe National Women’s Half Marathon has announced this year’s field of elite and invited athletes. The list includes a mix of current top runners, veterans, and a crew of debut half marathoners from Team Kyocera.

Kenyan Julia Mombi will be at the top of the class as none of the Japanese runners approach her recent times. Mombi’s only foreign competition, Brit Mara Yamauchi, is running the Tokyo International Women’s Marathon eight days before Kobe and is doubtlessly appearing only in a special guest capacity.

Japanese runners Yumiko Hara, Mari Ozaki and Akemi Ozaki, all primarily running as marathoners these days, have the potential for a good day performance in which they stay with Mombi. Akane Wakita is on an improvement curve in recent years and may well be the best hope for a domestic breakthrough performance.

The 2008 Kobe National Women’s Half Marathon takes place on Nov. 24 at 9:30 a.m.

2008 Kobe National Women’s Half Marathon Elite Field
Julia Mombi (Team Aruze) – 1:08:31 (2008)
Mara Yamauchi (Second Wind AC) – 1:08:45 (2007)
Yumiko Hara (Team Kyocera) – 1:09:28 (2002)
Mari Ozaki (Team Noritz) – 1:09:33 (2002)
Kiyomi Ogawa (Team Kyocera) – 1:09:39 (2002)
Akemi Ozaki (Second Wind AC) – 1:10:31 (2003)
Akane Wakita (Team Toyota Jidoshokki) – 1:11:01 (2007)
Kaori Oyama (Team Noritz) – 1:11:51 (2004)
Chihiro Tanaka (Team Daitsu) – 1:12:00 (2002)
Minori Hayakari (Kyoto Koka AC) – 1:12:27 (2005)
Yuko Arimori (Team Recruit) – 1:12:52 (2000)
Mika Hikita (Team Aruze) – 1:13:27 (2002)
Miki Oka (Team Daihatsu) – 1:14:38 (2008)
Maki Suzawa (Team Kyocera) – 33:25 (10km) (2008)
Mai Kizaki (Team Kyocera) – 33:33 (10km) (2008)
Rie Yoshifuku (Team Kyocera) – 34:46 (10km) (2008)

(c) 2008 Brett Larner
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