japan running news

by Brett Larner

On Nov. 28 the organziers of the 2011 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon, the last elite marathon of the year, announced the lineup of this year's invited athlete field.  One of the most competitive editions in Hofu history, the field includes 2010 Asian Games marathon gold medalist Youngjun Ji (South Korea), Tokyo Marathon hero Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref.), defending champion Serod Batochir (Mongolia) and Fukuoka University ace Takuro Nakanishi among others.

Ji leads a contingent of three strong Korean athletes and is the likely favorite, but Batochir returns to Hofu with a solid 2:11:35 PB from April's London Marathon and should present a serious challenge to Ji's chances.  On paper Kawauchi is the leading man among the Japanese runners, but Hofu will be his fourth marathon in the last three months and, coming just two weeks after his bid for an Olympic team spot at the Fukuoka International Marathon seems unlikely to be more than a recovery run effort.  Nakanishi w…

http://www.shinmai.co.jp/news/20100401/a-4.htm
http://www.naganomarathon.gr.jp/modules/bulletin/article.php?storyid=108

translated by Brett Larner

On Mar. 31 the organizing committee of the 12th Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon announced the 34 athletes in the elite field for this year's edition on Apr. 18. Nicholas Chelimo (Kenya) tops the men's field with a PB of 2:07:46. Nagano prefecture marathon record holder Masaru Takamizawa (Saku Chosei H.S. AC) is also scheduled to run. Defending women's champion Irina Timofeyeva (Russia) returns and will face Kiyoko Shimahara (Second Wind AC), who was just named to the Japanese national team for November's Asian Games in Guanzhou, China.

Translator's note: Issue 3 of JRNPremium features an exclusive interview with Shimahara and will be published next week. Click here for more information.

2010 Nagano Marathon - Elite Field
click here for complete elite field listing
Men
Nicholas Chelimo (Kenya) - 2:07:46 (Amsterdam '09)
S…

by Brett Larner

Hot conditions in the final kilometers of the 2009 Berlin Marathon kept times slower than anticipated. With Team Kanebo's Tomohiro Seto a no-show, three elite Japanese men joined the field behind the anticipated duel between Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia and Duncan Kibet of Kenya. Former national record holder Atsushi Fujita (Fujitsu) and 2009 World Championships marathon alternate Kensuke Takahashi (Team Toyota) ran together in the second pack, relaxing through a slow first 10 km in 30:53 before the pace began to ratchet downward. At halfway the pair were right together in 1:04:18, Fujita well on track for his sub-2:10 target and Takahashi looking smooth.

When the pack broke apart in the second half Takahashi began to drift away and by 40 km was 45 seconds behind Fujita, who had fallen off sub-2:10 pace himself. Takahashi rallied for a strong finish but could only come within 6 seconds of Fujita by the goal line. Fujita was 8th overall in 2:12:54, Takahashi 9th in …

by Brett Larner

There was a time when Japanese women controlled the Berlin Marathon, winning every year from 2000-2005 and setting a world record and three national records under 2:20. The men have had some success as well, including the country's first 2:06 way back in 1999. Fast-forward a few years and, despite big-name Japanese women lining up in Chicago and New York, not a single elite Japanese woman is entered in the 2009 Berlin Marathon. Four men, on the other hand, will take the stage in the Sept. 20th race.

Kensuke Takahashi (Team Toyota) - PB: 2:11:25 (Tokyo '09)
Leading the group is 2009 World Championships marathon team alternate Kensuke Takahashi. Takahashi has run only two marathons, most recently a 3rd-place finish in March's Tokyo Marathon in a PB of 2:11:25. While Takahashi's time doesn't look impressive, in reality he made the race with a breakaway move into a vicious headwind at 30 km, eventually breaking 2:04 marathoner Sammy Korir of Kenya and look…

http://www.iaaf.org/LRR08/news/newsid=44506.html

by Brett Larner

The organizing committee of the 11th Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon to be held April 20 has announced the elite fields for the men's and women's competitions.

Headlining the list of invited overseas male runners are 2007 Beijing Marathon and 2006 Nagano Marathon winner Nephat Kinyanjui of Kenya (2:08:09 PB), 2005 Helsinki World Championships marathon silver medalist Christopher Isegwe of Tanzania (2:10:21 PB) and two-time Olympic marathon medalist Eric Wainaina of Kenya (2:08:43 PB). The domestic field is somewhat weak in this Olympic year, but includes veterans Tomohiro Seto (Team Kanebo) and Kazutaka Enoki (Team Toyota Boshoku) along with the marathon debut of half marathon ace Takashi Maeda (Team Toyota Boshoku). Japan-resident Kenyans Willy Kimutai and Willy Kirui Kiptoo will also be debuting and could be factors.

The women's field features former world record holder Tegla Loroupe of Kenya (2:20:43 PB), defending champion Alevtina Ivanova of Russ…