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World Championships Women's Marathon Team to Train Together in Boulder

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20090310-OHT1T00006.htm

translated by Brett Larner

Rikuren's new division charged with strengthening Japanese marathoning announced on Mar. 9 that it plans for the members of the women's marathon team for this August's World Championships to prepare together at a special training camp in Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A. The planned camp will begin in mid-May and last for about one month, ending before the June 25-28 National Track and Field Championships in Hiroshima. Along with the extra motivation of working together toward a common goal, it is hoped that the improved medical care and communication between coaches made possible by having all of the runners together in one location will help to increase the international competitiveness of the national team members.

Confirmed team members Yoshimi Ozaki (Team Daiichi Seimei) and Yoshiko Fujinaga (Team Shiseido) will take part in the camp, and probable members Yuri Kano (Second Wind AC) and Yukiko Akaba (Team Hokuren) have likewise been invited. Team Shiseido head coach Tsutomu Hiroyama (42) commented, "It sounds like a pretty good idea." Working together may well be the answer to bringing Japanese marathoners back to the front.

Translator's note: The original article does not mention the other confirmed team member, former national record holder Yoko Shibui (Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo), which suggests she will not train with the others.
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Comments

Anonymous said…
Kano is running london marathon this spring. I can't wait to see her run a fast time. I'm so glad Japanese runners are starting to run overseas marathons. Last year no Japanese runners ran. Kano will face a tough competition. There's gonna be Catherine Ndereba, Constantina, Wami ,Adere, Mikitenko.
March 12, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Anonymous said…
Does Kano want to win the World marathon majors? She'll get 500,000 if she wins. If she wins the london marathon she'll get 25 points.
March 12, 2009 at 1:53 PM
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