Australian Weightman and Kenyan Chelimo win Nagano Marathon

http://www.shinmai.co.jp/news/20100418/KT100418IWI090006000022.htm

translated and edited by Brett Larner

At the 12th Nagano Olympics Commemorative Marathon on April 18th, Australian Lisa Weightman ran a PB of 2:28:48 to win the women's race, while Kenyan Nicholas Chelimo ran 2:10:24 to take men's marathon, missing the course record by less than 10 seconds. After a freak snowstorm the day before the race, temperatures at the start were 12.5 degrees.

In the women's race Weightman led an early pack with Kiyoko Shimahara (Second Wind AC) and Irene Limika (Kenya). Weightman made a move to break away only 17 km into the race and ran the remaining 25 km alone to become the first Australian winner in Nagano history. Defending champion Irina Timofeyeva experienced problems with her right thigh and was unable to maintain contact with the leaders. Eri Hayakawa (Amino Vital AC) overtook Shimahara to finish as the top Japanese runner in 3rd overall.

In the men's race the lead pack boiled down to Chelimo, Ethiopian Abioyt Guta and two others after 7 km. The group went through 10 km in 30:22 and halfway in 1:04:13, among the fastest splits the Nagano Marathon has seen. Chelimo surged at 30 km and maintained his momentum for the win. Japan-resident Kenyan Peter Kariuki (Team Mazda) was 2nd. Masaru Takamizawa (Saku Chosei H.S. AC) was the top Japanese finisher, 4th overall.

2010 Nagano Olympics Commemorative Marathon - Top Finishers
click division for more detailed results
Women
1. Lisa Weightman (Australia) - 2:28:48 - PB
2. Olena Burkovska (Ukraine) - 2:31:53
3. Eri Hayakawa (Amino Vital AC) - 2:33:05
4. Kiyoko Shimahara (Second Wind AC) - 2:34:46
5. Irene Limika (Kenya) - 2:36:26
6. Chinatsu Maruoka (Team Shikoku Denryoku) - 2:38:45
7. Kate Smyth (Australia) - 2:39:27
8. Naoko Tsuchiya (Piolacs AC) - 2:39:35
9. Chihiro Tanaka (AthleC AC) - 2:42:39
10. Miya Nishio (Team Universal Entertainment) - 2:43:15

Men
1. Nicholas Chelimo (Kenya) - 2:10:24
2. Peter Kariuki (Kenya/Team Mazda) - 2:11:30
3. Shadrack Kiplagat (Kenya) - 2:12:49
4. Masaru Takamizawa (Saku Chosei H.S. AC) - 2:13:04
5. Etsu Miyata (Team Fujitsu) - 2:13:19
6. Anthony Wangeci (Kenya) - 2:14:49
7. Tomohiro Seto (Team Kanebo) - 2:15:26
8. Abiyot Guta (Ethiopia) - 2:18:06
9. Tomonori Onitsuka (Team Komori Corp.) - 2:18:22
10. Erick Wainaina (Kenya/Lights AC) - 2:19:14