japan running news

by Brett Larner

In a familiar sight on the Japanese women's marathon circuit, a late-30's Eastern European woman negative-splitted her way to the win of the world's largest women-only marathon, the Nagoya Women's Marathon.  39-year-old Russian Mariya Konovalova led virtually start to finish, more than often than not ahead of the lone Kenyan pacer as she progressively ground down the competition.  A lead pack of 21 at 10 km was down to 14 by halfway, which Konovalova crossed in 1:12:34.  Most of the burnoff happened between there and 25 km, with only defending champion and Moscow World Championships marathon 4th-placer Ryoko Kizaki (Team Daihatsu), 2005 Osaka International Women's Marathon winner Jelena Prokopcuka (Lativa), debuting National Corporate Half Marathon champion Tomomi Tanaka (Team Daiichi Seimei), the idiosyncratic Eri Hayakawa (Team Toto), Ethiopian Ashete Dido and the pacer able to match Konovalova's pace.

Kenyan Agnes Kiprop managed to regain con…

http://www.iaaf.org/news/preview/ryoko-kizaki-2014-nagoya-womens-marathon-iaaf

The last of Japan's major winter/early spring marathons, the Nagoya Women's Marathon kicks off at 9:00 a.m. Japan time on Sunday, Mar. 9.  JRN will cover the race live on Twitter @JRNLive.  Overseas viewers should be able to watch Fuji TV's live broadcast via Keyhole TV, for which a premium key is recommended for reliable quality.  Unofficial live streaming may be available on any of a number of overseas streaming sites.

Also newsworthy is Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) in the mass-participation Nagoya Half Marathon that accompanies the women-only marathon.  Kawauchi entered the half through the regular online lottery and was among those who won places in the field.

2014 Nagoya Women's Marathon Nagoya, 3/9/14 click here for detailed field listing
1. Mariya Konovalova (Russia) - 2:22:46 (Chicago 2013) 2. Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) - 2:22:56 (Osaka Women's 2005) 11. Ryoko Kizaki (Team …

http://www.shizushin.com/sports_news/shizuoka/20110308000000000018.htm
translated by Brett Larner
At the final domestic selection race for the 2011 World Championships women's marathon team, the Mar. 13 Nagoya International Women's Marathon, track ace Noriko Matsuoka (Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) will take on her marathon debut. "I wouldn't exactly say that I have no chance [to make the World Championships team]," she says. Matsuoka has always kept the hope of making a strong marathon debut hidden away inside, and now at age 31 having risen above hardship and setbacks she is ready to take hold of the opportunity.
With no significant injuries since last summer Matsuoka completed the entire training menu she was given and is in a state of excellent preparation. But, she says, "I've practiced and practiced, but for some reason I just can't shake my self-doubt. 42.195 km is a long way. But, I think that when we get down to the day before the race I'll cut …

2010 Nagoya Half Marathon
Nagoya, 11/23/10 - final running
click here for complete results
Men
1. Martin Mathathi (Kenya/Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) - 1:00:29
2. Jacob Wanjuki (Kenya/Team Aichi Steel) - 1:00:32 - PB
3. Mekubo Mogusu (Kenya/Team Aidem) - 1:01:12
4. Satoru Kasuya (Team Toyota Boshoku) - 1:03:50
5. Munehiro Sugaya (Team Toyota) - 1:04:05

Women
1. Noriko Matsuoka (Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) - 1:11:13 - PB
2. Hiromi Ominami (Utic AC) - 1:14:50

2010 Nagoya Half Marathon Elite Athlete Field
final running - 11/23/10
click here for complete listing
Men
Martin Mathathi(Kenya/Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) - 59:48
Mekubo Mogusu(Kenya/Team Aidem) - 59:48
Gideon Ngatuny(Kenya/Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 59:50
Jacob Wanjuki(Kenya/Team Aichi Seiko) - 1:01:07
Samuel Ndungu(Kenya/Team Aichi Seiko) - 1:01:17
Munehiro Sugaya(Team Toyota) - 1:02:22
Yoshiki Otsuka(Team Aichi Seiko) - 1:03:29
Hiroaki Inoue(Team Toenec) - 1:03:32
Satoru Kasuya(Team Toyota Boshoku) - 1:03:33
Satoshi Abe(Team Toenec) - 1:03:34
Yoshihiko Asaba(Team Toenec) - 1:03:35

Women
Hiromi Ominami(Yutic AC) - 1:08:45
Noriko Matsuoka(Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) - 1:11:46
Kaori Akagawa(Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) - 1:12:28

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2010083190225214.html
http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2010083100992

translated and edited by Brett Larner

A key selection race for Olympic and World Championships teams held each March, the Nagoya International Women's Marathon will from 2012 abandon its traditional elite-only format in favor of a mass-participation format. The new race, tentatively titled the Nagoya Women's Marathon, will be open to women only and, with a field limit of 10,000, is expected to become the world's largest women-only full marathon. Designed for both elites and amateurs, the new race will have a cutoff time of 7 hours.

Along with the change in format, November's Nagoya City Half Marathon will change dates following this year's running to become incorporated into the new event along with 10 km and 4 km races to allow both men and women, adults and children to take part. The total number of runners in the race weekend is expected to exceed 30,000. …

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/091123/spg0911231501002-n1.htm

translated by Brett Larner

Defending champion Gideon Ngatuny (Team Nissin Shokuhin) won his second-straight Nagoya Half Marathon on Nov. 23, breaking his own course record with a new PB of 59:50 at the 25th anniversary edition of the Rikuren-certified event. Yoshiki Otsuka (Team Aichi Seiko) was the top Japanese finisher, 6th overall in 1:03:29.

Julia Mombi (Team Universal Entertainment) had an easy victory in the women's race, running 1:10:35 to take the win over Maho Matsuno (Chukyo Women's Univ.) who was 2nd in 1:19:12.

2009 Nagoya Half Marathon - Top Finishers
Men - click here for complete results
1. Gideon Ngatuny (Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 59:50 - CR, PB
2. Jacob Wanjuki (Team Aichi Seiko) - 1:01:30
3. Samuel Ndungu (Team Aichi Seiko) - 1:01:32
4. Mekubo Mogusu (Team Aidem) - 1:02:01
5. James Mwangi (Team NTN) - 1:02:35
6. Yoshiki Otsuka (Team Aichi Seiko) - 1:03:29
7. Kiyokatsu Hasegawa (Team JR Higashi Nihon) - 1:03:29
…

http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3912832/
https://www.nissinfoods.co.jp/csr/social/sports/athlete/blog/index.html?ym=2008-11&id=773

translated and edited by Brett Larner
photo courtesy of Nissin Shokuhin

Kenyan Gideon Ngatuny (Team Nissin Shokuhin) won the Nov. 24 Nagoya Half Marathon, setting a new course record of 1:00:11 for the 21.0975 km race beginning at Nagoya's Mizuho Park Track and Field Grounds. Satoru Kasuya (Team Toyota Boshoku) was the top Japanese finisher, 3rd overall.

Hiromi Ominami (Team Toyota Shatai) won the women's race in 1:09:31, with her identical twin sister Takami (Team Toyota Shatai) finishing 2nd.

Translator's note: Nagoya was Gideon Ngatuny's half marathon debut. Satoru Kasuya is running his marathon debut at the Dec. 21 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon.

2008 Nagoya Half Marathon Top Finishers
Men
1. Gideon Ngatuny (Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 1:00:11 - new course record
2. Samuel Ndungu (Team Aichi Steel) - 1:01:17
3. Satoru Kasuya (Team Toyota Boshoku) -…