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Preliminary Elite Fields for Fukuoka and Hofu Marathons

by Brett Larner

December will see two of Japan's elite marathons take place in the country's deep south, the A-list Fukuoka International Marathon on Dec. 7 and the developmental Hofu Yomiuri Marathon on Dec. 21. Official entry lists for the two races have not been released, but a number of athletes have declared their intentions to compete in either or Fukuoka or Hofu.

This year Fukuoka is particularly significant in that it is the first of the domestic selection races for the 2009 Berlin World Championships men's marathon team. Headlining Fukuoka thus far is Arata Fujiwara, who finished 2nd at last February's Tokyo Marathon and was selected as the alternate for the Beijing Olympics men's marathon team. Fujiwara ran an atrocious race at October's Chicago Marathon and will run Fukuoka to make up for his failed international debut. His chief competition thus far is Yuko Matsumiya, the slightly less talented identical twin brother of Beijing Olympian Takayuki Matsumiya. Yuko Matsumiya is a reliable 2:09 marathoner who gives the impression of not having quite lived up to his potential yet. A breakthrough run in Fukuoka is certainly possible. Also in the mix at the current time is Tomoyuki Sato, a 2007 World Championships marathoner who finished just over a minute behind Fujiwara in Tokyo this year. Fujiwara's teammate Tsuyoshi Igarashi, who placed 3rd at October's Takashimadaira 20 km Road Race, will be making his marathon debut.

Hofu typically has a younger field than Fukuoka with a large percentage of first-timers. This year looks to be no exception. The most notable of the runners now in the Hofu Field is Satoru Kasuya, anchor of Komazawa University's Hakone Ekiden squad before his graduation in 2006, in his marathon debut.

Following is a list of runners who have declared that they will compete in one of the races along with team affiliation and PB details.

Fukuoka International Marathon, Dec. 7
Arata Fujiwara (Team JR Higashi Nihon) - 2:08:40 (Tokyo 2008)
Yuko Matsumiya (Team Konica Minolta) - 2:09:18 (Biwako 2005)
Tomoyuki Sato (Team Asahi Kasei) - 2:09:43 (Tokyo Int'l 2004)
Masatoshi Ibata (Team Aisan) - 2:13:26 (Biwako 2001)
Tsuyoshi Igarashi (Team JR Higashi Nihon) - debut (1/2 mar.: 1:03:46)

Hofu Yomiuri Marathon, Dec. 21
Tomohiro Minami (Team Aisan) - 2:15:55 (Nobeoka 2007)
Hiroyuki Kamiguchi (Team Suzuki) - 2:17:37 (Biwako 2006)
Nao Kazami (Team Aisan) - 2:18:58 (unknown date)
Takashi Yamauchi (Team Aisan) - debut (1/2 mar.: 1:02:35)
Satoru Kasuya (Team Toyota Boshoku) - debut (1/2 mar.: 1:03:40)
Yasushi Yamamoto (Team Suzuki) - deubt (1/2 mar.: 1:04:46)

(c) 2008 Brett Larner
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