Kawauchi Taken to Hospital After Suffering Heat Stroke Near End of 50 km Ultra

translated and edited by Brett Larner

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2011 World Championships marathon team member Yuki Kawauchi (24, Saitama Pref.) was taken to the hospital after collapsing just before the finish of the Okinoshima 50 km ultramarathon in Shimane prefecture on June 19.

An amateur runner, Kawauchi earned his ticket to the Daegu World Championships by finishing 3rd at February's Tokyo Marathon in 2:08:37. He ran the Okinoshima race, located on the island where his late father was born, as a practice run for the World Championships. Running at a pace of 37 minutes per 10 km over the difficult, hilly course Kawauchi led the race the whole way, but in the last km he fell repeatedly before finally losing consciousness with 600 m to go. According to a spectator, Kawauchi was, "bent over, leaning forward. He was weaving back and forth and looked like he was out cold on his feet."

A race official said that Kawauchi was taken to a local hospital suffering from heat stroke and dehydration, but that he had regained consciousness and could speak. He was treated and was not expected to be kept in the hospital overnight. The race began at 11:30 a.m. with afternoon temperatures peaking at 25 degrees, 86% humidity, strong sunshine and light winds.