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Sendai International Half Marathon Announces Elite Field

by Brett Larner

Cancelled last year in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that hit its area hard, the Sendai International Half Marathon has announced a small but competitive elite field for its 22nd running on May 13.  Japan-resident Kenyans Mekubo Mogusu (Team Nissin Shokuhin), Daniel Gitau (Team Fujitsu) and Harun Njoroge (Team Komori Corp.) make up the front end of the men's field, with London Olympics marathon team member Arata Fujiwara (Tokyo T&F Assoc.), independent Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref.) and breakthrough marathoner Takashi Horiguchi (Team Honda) among the best in the domestic men's field.

Former women's national record holder Mizuki Noguchi (Team Sysmex) returns to Sendai, site of some of her best races, to face the Miyauchi twins Hiroko and Yoko (Team Kyocera) and her own teammate Megumi Seike (Team Sysmex).

This year the Sendai half also features a large mass-participation field, initially planned for last year's edition after 20 years as a competitive event.  Check back closer to race date for more information on catching the TV broadcast.

2012 Sendai International Half Marathon Elite Field
Sendai, 5/13/12
click here for complete elite field listing

Men
Mekubo Mogusu (Kenya/Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 59:48
Daniel Gitau (Kenya/Team Fujitsu) - 1:01:01
Harun Njoroge (Kenya/Team Komori Corp.) - 1:01:04
Arata Fujiwara (Tokyo T&F Assoc.) - 1:01:34
Yoshihiro Yamamoto (Team Toyota Boshoku) - 1:02:03
Atsushi Fujita (Team Fujitsu) - 1:02:12
Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref.) - 1:02:18
Takeshi Kumamoto (Team Toyota) - 1:02:29
Takeshi Maegawa (Team Toenec) - 1:02:30
Takashi Horiguchi (Team Honda) - 1:02:32
Kohei Nishiyama (Team Otsuka Seiyaku) - 1:02:38
Tsukasa Morita (Team Sanyo Tokushu Seiko) - 1:02:42
Ryosuke Fukuyama (Team Honda) - 1:02:49
Kosaku Hoshina (Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 1:03:09

Women
Mizuki Noguchi (Team Sysmex) - 1:07:43
Yoko Miyauchi (Team Kyocera) - 1:09:23
Hiroko Miyauchi (Team Kyocera) - 1:09:54
Megumi Seike (Team Sysmex) - 1:10:08
Misato Horie (Team Noritz) - 1:10:37
Sumiko Suzuki (Team Hokuren) - 1:13:30

(c) 2012 Brett Larner
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