Weekend Overseas Marathon Results

Five Japanese men took on two of Europe's main marathons Sunday.

At the Huawei Venice Marathon runners battled strong headwinds the entire way, winds that combined with high tide to seriously flood the last three kilometers of the course through Venice proper. After breaking away from a Kenyan trio coming onto the long bridge into Venice winner Gebre Mekuant Ayenew (Ethiopia) paused, slowing to a walk and almost stopping at the end of the first of the fourteen bridges that punctuate the Venice course when he found waves breaking across the course ahead of him. Gebre lost over a minute on his projected time slogging through the water to win in 2:13:23.

Women's winner Angela Jemesunde Tanui (Kenya) lost even more time as the water continued to rise, dropping off a steady sub-2:27 pace to finish in 2:31:30. Boston Marathon winner Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't), expected to challenge Gebre for the win, fell off the pace after only 5 km and, looking heavy and tight, slowed the rest of the way to finish in a career worst 2:27:43. "I don't know what happened," he told media post-race. "My last tuneup was good, and I have no idea why I couldn't run today."

Futher north in Germany, sub-2:10 men Hiroyuki Yamamoto (Konica Minolta), Tadashi Isshiki (GMO) and Akinobu Murasawa (Nissin Shokuhin), and 2:13:53 runner Yuki Munakata (Kanebo) faced similarly windy but colder conditions at the Frankfurt Marathon. Yamamoto, returning from injury, dropped out after only 15 km. Isshiki, who needed to run low-2:12 to qualify for the MGC Race 2020 Olympic trials, ran 2:14:49 for 17th with Murasawa next in 2:15:41. Munkata had the best day of the four, running close to his PB in 2:14:32 to take 15th overall. Kelkile Gezahegn Woldaregay (Ethiopia) won in 2:06:37, with Meskerem Assefa Wondimagegn (Ethiopia) winning an amazingly deep women's race in 2:20:36.

Frankfurt Marathon

Frankfurt, Germany, 10/28/18
complete results

Men
1. Kelkile Gezahegn Woldaregay (Ethiopia) - 2:06:37
2. Martin Kiprugut Kosgey (Kenya) - 2:06:41
3. Alex Kibet (Kenya) - 2:07:09
4. Amos Kiplimo Mitei (Kenya) - 2:07:28
5. Kenneth Keter (Kenya) - 2:07:34
-----
15. Yuki Munakata (Japan/Kanebo) - 2:14:32
17. Tadashi Isshiki (Japan/GMO) - 2:14:49
18. Akinobu Murasawa (Japan/Nissin Shokuhin) - 2:15:41
-----
DNF - Hiroyuki Yamamoto (Japan/Konica Minolta)

Women
1. Meskerem Assefa Wondimagegn (Ethiopia) - 2:20:36
2. Haftamnesh Tesfay Haylu (Ethiopia) - 2:20:47
3. Bedatu Hirpa Badane (Ethiopia) - 2:21:32
4. Belaynesh Oljira Jemama (Ethiopia) - 2:21:53
5. Dera Dida Yami (Ethiopia) - 2:22:39

Venice Marathon

Venice, Italy, 10/28/18
complete results

Men
1. Gebre Mekuant Ayenew (Ethiopia) - 2:13:23
2. Gilbert Kipleting Chumba (Kenya) - 2:13:52
3. Stephen Kiplimo (Kenya) - 2:13:58
4. Philip Cheruiyot Kangogo (Kenya) - 2:14:07
5. Vincent Kiplagat Kiptoo (Kenya) - 2:17:35
6. John Kipchirchir Komen (Kenya) - 2:19:47
7. Yuki Kawauchi (Japan/Saitama Pref. Gov't) - 2:27:43
8. James Kimat Ebenyo (Kenya) - 2:32:00

Women
1. Angela Jemesunde Tanui (Kenya) - 2:31:30
2. Amente Sorome Negash (Ethiopia) - 2:38:59
3. Euliter Jepchirchir Tanui (Kenya) - 2:40:56
4. Brendah Kebeya (Kenya) - 2:44:26
5. Nikolina Sustic (Croatia) - 2:50:18

text and photo © 2018 Brett Larner

Two-Time Olympic Marathon Medalist Erick Wainaina Referred to Prosectors on Suspicion of Assault

According to investigators, two-time Olympic marathon medalist Erick Wainaina has had his case referred to prosecutors after allegedly injuring a railway employee by striking him in the face at a station in Setagaya, Tokyo. Wainaina, 50, was the bronze medalist in the marathon at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and won silver in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Wainaina is suspected of assaulting a woman in her late teens and a male Tokyo Denentoshi Line employee by hitting them in the face during an altercation at Komazawa University Station in March this year, resulting in minor injuries to the man's face. According to investigators, the incident began on the train between Wainaina and the woman, and after getting off at Komazawa University Station he hit her in the face when she asked him to go to the station office with her to report it. When the male railway employee responded to the situation Wainaina reportedly hit him too. In response to questioning Wainaina is said to have answered,

Wanjiru Breaks Own MR, Fuwa and Ishida Return - Kanto Regionals Day 1 Highlights

Japan's best college meet kicked off Thursday at Tokyo's National Stadium at the 103rd Kanto Region University Track and Field Championships . Looking like she was doing a controlled tempo run, 2nd-yr Sarah Wanjiru (Daito Bunka Univ.) lapped the entire field to win the women's 10000 m in a meet record 32:02.87, almost 15 seconds under the record she last year in her debut. 3rd-yr Aoi Takahashi (Josai Univ.) was 2nd in 33:29.22 and 2nd-yr Nana Nagashima (Josai Kokusai Univ.) 3rd in a PB 33:30.28, but the other main news alongside Wanjiru's new record was the return of collegiate 10000 m record holder Seira Fuwa (Takushoku Univ.) in her first 10000 m in 19 months. Fuwa hung at the back of the chase pack for the first half, made a move to lead it in the second half, and ultimately faded to 9th in 33:40.20. Every comeback has to start somewhere. The D1 men's 10000 m had a tight group up front with the top 6 all finishing within 6 seconds and under 28:10. 3rd-yr Jam

Police Arrest 20-Year-Old Man Charged With Assaulting Female Runner at Popular Tokyo Running Spot

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a female runner along the banks of the Tama River in Ota Ward, Tokyo. "I've been stuck at home because of the coronavirus, so I wanted to go for a walk and move my body a bit," the man told police. Local resident Hirai Muroyama , 20, of no known occupation, was arrested on charges of sexual assault. He is accused of acts including grabbing the breasts of a woman in her 20s at around 10 p.m. on May 31 along the banks of the Tama River. According to police, the woman was taking a break in her run when Muroyama approached her silently from behind and grabbed her breasts before running away. Under police interrogation Muroyama told investigators, "I've been stuck at home because of the coronavirus, so I wanted to go out for a walk and move my body. I'd had a few drinks and was feeling pretty hype. She was totally my type." source article: https://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newsey

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