japan running news

by Brett Larner

The organizers of the Mar. 17 New York City Half Marathon have released the men's and women's elite fields for this year's race.  Alongside world-level medalists including Wilson Kipsang (Kenya), Dathan Ritzenhein (U.S.A.), Deressa Chimsa (Ethiopia), Meb Keflezighi (U.S.A.) and Bernard Lagat (U.S.A.), Japanese collegiates Kenta Murayama (Komazawa Univ.) and Kento Otsu (Toyo Univ.) will be running as part of a relationship organized by JRN between the New York City Half Marathon and the Ageo City Half Marathon.  Murayama, the first man to win the National University Championships 5000 m as a first-year since the great Toshihiko Seko, won Ageo in 1:02:46 last November before going on to run an all-time Japanese #10 1:01:19 at February's Marugame Half Marathon, a time that would have put him 4th in New York in 2012.  Otsu, 2nd at Ageo in 1:02:53, is running New York for the second time after making his international debut there last year.

2013 Marugame wom…

by Brett Larner

Correction: Although Kenta Murayama is 19, his 1:01:19 will apparently not be considered a new Asian Jr. record as age is calculated on Dec. 31 of the year of competition for the purposes of junior records.

After a record-setting edition last year the Marugame Half Marathon was back with exciting races in both the men's and women's divisions.  London Olympics marathon gold medalist and defending Marugame women's winner Tiki Gelana (Ethiopia) went out alone with a 15:52 opening split, but the fastest woman in the race, Kim Smith (New Zealand), patiently reeled her back in and by 15 km had a stride-length lead.  At 20 km they were virutally side-by-side, but Gelana still had the kick to put Smith away.  Gelana crossed the finish line 7 seconds ahead of Smith in 1:08:53, just off her best but good enough for a second-straight Marugame title.  3rd-place Yuko Shimizu (Team Sekisui Kagaku) broke from the Japanese chase pack at 15 km to break 70 minutes for the fir…

by Brett Larner

Top-seeded Lydia Cheromei (Kenya) braved windy seaside conditions to solo a course record 2:23:07 at the 4th Yokohama International Women's Marathon after breaking from the pack at only 15 km.  As predicted, 2009 Tokyo Marathon winner Mizuho Nasukawa (Team Univ. Ent.) took top Japanese honors, 2nd overall in 2:26:42 after an exciting four-way battle over the last 7 km.

The first of three major women's selection races for the 2013 Moscow World Championships, Yokohama saw Japanese women butting heads with the Federation's seemingly excessively ambitious sub-2:24 qualifying time.  In difficult conditions three pacers led by the promising Asami Kato (Team Panasonic) took things out on schedule, but after Kato's departure at 14 km the pace slackened and Cheromei grew impatient.  Moving ahead of remaining pacers Maria Konovalova (Russia) and Olena Shurkhno (Ukraine) at 15 km she forged on ahead, fluttering on either side of the 2:23 line with the vagaries of …

http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/11/05/nycs-thwarted-elite-runners-head-to-japan/

http://newyorkcitymarathon.runnersworld.com/2012/11/for-elites-next-stop-japan.html

http://www.nzrun.com/topic/13459-Smith-to-run-Yokohama-Marathon

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/7909842/

The full name of the race is the Yokohama International Women's Marathon.

By David Monti

(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

Toyo University's Kento Otsu (#2) and Yuta Shitara (#4).  Photo by Kazuyuki Sugimatsu.

NEW YORK (01-Mar) -- The New York Road Runners announced today that some of the distance running's top international stars would run the seventh annual NYC Half on Sunday, March 18, joining USA Olympians Desiree Davila, Kara Goucher, Meb Keflezighi and Dathan Ritzenhein at America's most competitive spring half-marathon.
Race director Mary Wittenberg, the NYRR's president and, called the additions to the race "a dynamic field of stars," adding that "the NYC Half will provide a thrilling preview" for this summer's Olympic Marathon.
Leading the list on the women's side are defending champion, Caroline Rotich of Kenya (1:08:52 PB); the fastest-ever women's half-marathoner on U.S. soil, Kim Smith of New Zealand (1:07:11); and reigning ING New York City Marathon champion, Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia…

2011 Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon
Philadelphia, U.S.A., 9/18/11
click here for complete results

Women
1. Kim Smith (New Zealand) - 1:07:11 - CR
2. Weknesh Kidane (Ethiopia) - 1:07:26
3. Bizunesh Deba (Ethiopia) - 1:09:53
4. Jane Kibii (Kenya) - 1:10:23
5. Maegen Krifchin (U.S.A.) - 1:11:04
6. Diane Nukuri (Kenya) - 1:12:08
7. Yolanda Caballero (Colombia) - 1:12:35
8. Claire Hallissey - 1:12:39
9. Misiker Mekonnin (Ethiopia) - 1:12:57
10. Dot McMahan (U.S.A.) - 1:12:57
-----
16. Mizuho Nasukawa (Team Univ. Ent.) - 1:14:35

Men
1. Matthew Kisorio (Kenya) - 58:46
2. Sammy Kitwara (Kenya) - 58:48
3. James Mwangi (Kenya) - 1:00:42
4. Peter Kamais (Kenya) - 1:01:06
5. Julius Koskei (Kenya) - 1:01:21
6. Shawn Forrest - 1:01:34
7. Abderrahim Goumri (Morocco) - 1:01:41
8. Hosea Macharinyang (Kenya) - 1:01:42
9. Bobby Curtis (U.S.A.) - 1:01:52
10. Markos Geneti (Ethiopia) - 1:02:01

by Brett Larner

Looking through results this week from various half marathons around the world I noticed that a number of the top women from next month's London Marathon ran tuneups last Sunday. Here's what I have come across so far. Please send any additions. Both the Jitsugyodan and Matsue half marathons had extremely windy conditions; Japan had such a windy weekend that the 10,000+ runner Arakawa Marathon was cancelled due to the conditions.

2010 London Marathon Elite Women - 3/21/10 Half Marathon Results
Mara Yamauchi (GBR) - 1:09:25 (1st, NYC Half)
Deena Kastor (U.S.A.) - 1:09:43 (2nd, NYC Half)
Yoshimi Ozaki (Team Daiichi Seimei) - 1:10:06 (2nd, Jitsugyodan Half)
Askale Tafa (Ethiopia) - 1:10:46 (2nd, Lisbon Half)
Kim Smith (New Zealand) - 1:10:53 (1st, New Bedford Half)
Yukiko Akaba (Team Hokuren) - 1:11:09 (2nd, Matsue Ladies' Half)
Constantina Dita (Romania) - 1:14:39 (9th, Lisbon Half)