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Kinukawa May DNS at Olympic Marathon Selection Race After Training Setback

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2012/01/15/kiji/K20120115002431060.html

translated by Brett Larner

Targeting the London Olympics marathon, 5000 m national champion Megumi Kinukawa (22, Mizuno) may withdraw from the Mar. 11 Nagoya Women's Marathon Olympic selection race.  The news came out following the Jan. 14 opening ceremonies for Sunday's National Interprefectural Women's Ekiden Championships that Kinukawa began experiencing pain in her right Achilles tendon in early December and was forced to take 20 days off training.  As a result of her training being far behind schedule, she switched places on the Gunma team at the Jan. 15 ekiden from her planned debut on the 10.0 km anchor stage to the 4.0 km Fourth Stage.  "I've only just started running, so I'm at about 50%," she said with obvious discouragement.  "I hope to improve on that in the race tomorrow."
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