Fukushi to Run Osaka International Women's Marathon vs. Noguchi

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/news/111218/oth11121817520012-n1.htm

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Half-marathon national record holder Kayoko Fukushi (29, Team Wacoal) announced Dec. 18 that she will run the Jan. 29 Osaka International Women's Marathon in a bid to make the London Olympic team. Her coach Tadayuki Nagayama commented, "We're looking forward to the race, including the chance for some payback for 2008 [where Fukushi was 19th in 2:40:54 in her debut]. Fukushi's only stab at the marathon since then was her 2:24:38 best at October's Chicago Marathon. In Osaka she will face Athens Olympics marathon gold medalist and national record holder Mizuki Noguchi (33, Team Sysmex), who declared for Osaka some time ago. "There's no point being nervous," said Fukushi. "I don't know what I can do in the marathon yet."

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