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Kawauchi 8th in Solo Dusseldorf - "No Other Japanese Was a New Experience"

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/news/120429/oth12042920580028-n1.htm

translated by Brett Larner
photos (c) 2012 Brett Larner

Having lost in his bid to make the London Olympics team, civil servant runner Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref.) finished 8th in 2:12:58 at the Apr. 29 Dusseldorf Marathon, his first European race. Kawachi commented afterward, "Having only Kenyans and Ethiopians and no other Japanese around me was a new experience," taking something positive from the experience.  Losing touch with the lead pack following a surge just before 23 km, he missed his goal of a sub-2:10 clocking.  "I wanted to beat my Tokyo Marathon time (2:12:51) no matter what.  I can only blame my own weakness for this result, and I have to figure out how to do better."

A full-time employee at Kasukabe H.S. in Saitama, Kawauchi is an oddity among Japan's top-class athletes.  Following his European debut, he says, "I'm going straight from the airport to work."  Even in the face of disappointment he remains as serious and principled as ever.

2012 Dusseldorf Marathon
Dusseldorf, Germany, 4/29/12
click here for complete results

Men
1. Seboka Diriba Tola (Ethiopia) - 2:08:27 - CR
2. Duncan Koech (Kenya) - 2:08:33 - PB
3. Abraham Kiprotich (Kenya) - 2:08:35
4. Marcin Chabowski (Poland) - 2:10:07 - PB
5. Evans Ruto (Kenya) - 2:10:10
6. Nahashon Kimaiyo (Kenya) - 2:10:28
7. Abraham Chelanga (Kenya) - 2:10:40
8. Yuki Kawauchi (Japan) - 2:12:58
-----
15. Saeki Makino (Japan) - 2:21:42 - PB

Women
1. Agnes Jeruto (Kenya) - 2:25:49 - CR
2. Nastassia Staravoitava (Belarus) - 2:27:24
3. Melkam Gisaw (Ethiopia) - 2:27:50
4. Volha Dubovskaya (Belarus) - 2:28:08
5. Kebebush Haile Lema (Ethiopia) - 2:29:02
6. Anna Hahner (Germany) - 2:30:14 - debut
7. Fantu Eticha Jimma (Ethiopia) - 2:30:53
8. Jane Rotich (Kenya) - 2:31:06
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