Kawauchi Runs 2:08:14 PB in Seoul

by Brett Larner

In search of a 2:07 to clear the Federation's World Championships selection standard, Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) ran a PB of 2:08:14 for 4th place at the Mar. 17 Seoul International Marathon, breaking his previous PB set in winning the Feb. 3 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon by 1 second. In so doing he became only the fifth Japanese man to ever break 2:09 three or more times in his career and also set a new world record for the shortest time ever between sub-2:10 performances, 42 days, breaking the old record by 1 day. In post-race comments quoted by MSN, Kawauchi said with apparent disappointment, "I was aiming for 2:07 in this race. It was an incredible waste."

Kawauchi will next run the Apr. 21 Nagano Marathon where he will shoot for the year-old course record of 2:09:05.

2013 Seoul International Marathon
Seoul, Korea, 3/17/13
click here for complete results

Men
1. Franklin Chepkwony (Kenya) - 2:06:59
2. Shumi Dechasa Lecha (Ethiopia) - 2:07:11
3. Seboka Dibaba Tola (Ethiopia) - 2:07:26
4. Yuki Kawauchi (Japan/Saitama Pref. Gov't) - 2:08:14
5. Josphat Kiplimo (Kenya) - 2:09:44

Women
1. Flomena Chepchirchir Chumba (Kenya) - 2:25:43
2. Emebt Etea Bedada (Ethiopia) - 2:25:53
3. Yeshimebet Tadesse Bifa (Ethiopia) - 2:26:17
4. Kim Seung-Eun (Korea) - 2:27:20
5. Lydia Ruto Jerotich (Kenya) - 2:28:22

(c) 2013 Brett Larner
all rights reserved

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