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Yuri Kano, Yurika Nakamura Lead Sanyo Women's Road Race Field

http://svr.sanyo.oni.co.jp/feature/sports/other/2009/12/01/20091201101648.html

translated by Brett Larner

The 28th Sanyo Women's Road Race is scheduled to take place Dec. 23. 65 women are entered in the elite half marathon, while the 10 km division has a field of 199. A number of athletes who competed in August's World Championships in Berlin will take their next step on the roads of Okayama.

At the top of the field in the half marathon is Berlin WC 10000 m 7th place finisher and Beijing Olympics marathoner Yurika Nakamura (Team Tenmaya). Her toughest challenge will come from Kenyan Danielle Filomena Cheyech (Team Uniqlo), who defeated Nakamura in March's National Jitsugyodan Women's Half Marathon, and last year's runner-up Megumi Seike (Team Sysmex). Marathoner Yumi Hirata (Team Shiseido) and Nakamura's teammate Kaori Urata (Team Tenmaya) are also expected to challenge for the lead.

In the 10 km, Berlin World Championships marathoners Yuri Kano (Second Wind AC) and Yoshiko Fujinaga (Team Shiseido) lead the way. Veterans Hiromi and Takami Ominami (Team Toyota Shatai) are also on the entry list, along with last year's runner-up Risa Shigetomo (Team Tenmaya), Miho Notagashira (Team Wacoal), Hiroko Miyauchi (Team Kyocera) and others.

The two races begin at Momotaro Stadium and run through Okayama city's streets. The half marathon begins at 10:00 a.m., with the 10 km following shortly afterward at 10:15 a.m.

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