Last year's winners
Betsy Saina and
Edward Waweru, both of Kenya, return to the Feb. 3
Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon, but in both cases they have tough competition. Ranked #1 in the women's race is
Mao Ichiyama (Wacoal) with a 1:09:14, 3 seconds better than Saina's winning time last year. 3 seconds slower is
Sinead Diver (Australia) with a 1:09:20 on home ground last year.
Sara Hall (U.S.A.) isn't far behind, and with track star
Ayuko Suzuki (Japan Post) making her debut off a brilliant run at last weekend's
National Women's Ekiden it should be a solid pack up front.
In the men's race, 2017 marathon world champion
Geoffrey Kirui (Kenya) leads the way, his best recent time a 1:00:04 in New Delhi two years ago. Only 2 seconds behind is
Shadrack Kiplagat (Kenya), with
Evans Cheruiyot (Kenya) and the Japan-based Waweru just over 20 seconds back. Waweru's condition is a question mark after an injury at the New Year Ekiden.
Kenta Murayama (Asah…
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