Skip to main content

Kenyans On Top, Ozakis 2nd and 3rd in Marugame Half Marathon

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2008020300056
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/f-sp-tp0-20080203-316071.html
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20080203-00000020-mai-spo

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Kenyan runner Philes Ongori (Team Hokuren) won the women's race at the 62nd Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon on Feb. 3 in a time of 1:07:57. Yoshimi Ozaki (Team Daiichi Seimei) was 2nd in 1:09:30. 14th place finisher in last summer's Osaka World Championships marathon Mari Ozaki (Team Noritz) was 3rd in 1:09:58, while veteran runner Harumi Hiroyama (Team Shiseido) was 4th. Ongori commented, "I really wanted to break [Kayoko Fukushi's course record of] 1:07:26." She plans to run a track event in the Beijing Olympics.

Yoshimi Ozaki will also be looking to qualify for the Olympics when she runs her marathon debut at the Nagoya International Women's Marathon in March. She ran Marugame to help her image training for the 2nd half of the full marathon, breaking from the chase pack to pursue Ongori with 5 km to go. "That was completely according to plan. I'm satisfied," said Ozaki. Her coach Sachiko Yamashita discussed Ozaki's marathon plan. "I think not trying to do too much in a debut marathon is the most important thing, but Yoshimi told me that no matter what happens she won't hate the marathon afterwards. She would rather see what she can really do." Thus, her debut marathon will be as a race effort. Ozaki herself offered these strong words: "I will keep the speed I had today and continue working on building my stamina. I'm going to come out hard and will be running in the Olympics."

The men's race was won by Kenyan Alan Jologe (Team Komori Corporation) in 1:01:35, his debut half marathon. Jologe told reporters, "I just came here from Kenya 2 weeks ago and I'm not really comfortable yet, but I ran a good time." Fellow Kenyans Joseph Mwaniki (Team Konica Minolta) and Martin Waweru (Team Fujitsu) were 2nd and 3rd in 1:01:39 and 1:02:02. Ryuji Matsushita (Team Fujitsu) was the top Japanese finisher, 4th in 1:02:14. Matsushita described his feelings about his results, saying, "I wanted to be one of the top finishers, but I'm in training for Biwako [Biwako Mainichi Marathon] in March so as part of that training this was good enough. The main event starts now."

Results
Men:
1. Harun Njoroge (Team Komori Corporation): 1:01:35 (debut)
2. Joseph Mwaniki (Team Konica Minolta): 1:01:39 (PB)
3. Martin Waweru (Team Fujitsu): 1:02:02 (debut)
4. Ryuji Matsushita (Team Fujitsu): 1:02:14

Women:
1. Philes Ongori (Team Hokuren): 1:07:57 (PB)
2. Yoshimi Ozaki (Team Daiichi Seimei): 1:09:30 (PB)
3. Akemi Ozaki (Team Noritz): 1:09:58
4. Harumi Hiroyama (Team Shiseido): 1:10:09

The IAAF's report on Marugame is here.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most-Read This Week

Kobe Marathon Elite Field

Sunday's Kobe Marathon has announced its elite fields, finally. Japanese athletes have a shot at qualifying for next fall's MGC Race, the official trials race for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, if they go sub-2:27 for the first Japanese woman across the line or sub-2:09 for the first 3 Japanese men to do it. There aren't a lot of contenders to pull it off. On the women's side, Kaede Hagitani , Ayaka Shimoyamada and Kotomi Tsubokura all ran 2:31-32 PBs in the spring and will need to step it up a couple of notches to get there. 2:23 Kenyan Antonina Kwambai is perfectly positioned to help. On the men's side, Keijiro Mogi is closest with a 2:09:06 at last year's Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon, Hiroto Kanamori his closest domestic competition with a 2:10:01 PB in Osaka in February. The international trio of last year's winner Barnaba Kipkoech , Elisha Rotich and Goitom Kifle all have recent 2:06-7 times and should help set it up for someone to get there, wh...
1 comment
Read more

Kenyan Graduate Student Athlete Posts Job Hunt for Ekiden Team on Twitter

A Kenyan runner who had tried to help lead his team to the Hakone Ekiden has taken an unusual approach to finding a post-graduation sponsor. Last week Patrick Kamau posted his job hunt on his Twitter account , saying, "I am looking for a club team or a corporate team where I can run in ekidens. I would be happy to run for any team that gave me a chance. I would be grateful for any opportunity and take it on with a positive attitude!" Kamau was 5th at the Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai qualifying race half marathon in 1:01:10 last year during his 4th year at Jobu University . But despite his efforts, Jobu never qualified for Hakone during his 4 years there. He is currently working on a graduate degree while looking for "a team that will let me continue my competitive career." Fans responded to Kamau's job search posting, saying, "I hope it works out for you!" "Good luck comes to those who work hard" and "Kamau is going to graduate school? Given...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Elite Field (updated)

Another big race on the MGC qualifying calendar has posted its elite fields, the Dec. 6 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon . It looks like a good race for the single MGC spot up for women under 2:27, and the 6 spots for men sub-2:09. Yuka Ando is the favorite in the women's race with a 2:21:18 in Nagoya 2 years ago, with her only real competition coming from Ayumi Morita , who broke 2:27 in Hofu last year but missed qualifying by not being the first Japanese woman across the line. CR holder Workneh Derese is back after his 2:06:58 win last year, leading Kenyan veteran Bedan Karoki and 4 Japanese men with a solid chance at sub-2:09, Tatsuya Maruyama , Ryoma Takeuchi , Shuho Dairokuno and Kento Nishi . Takeuchi set his 2:08:20 PB at Gold Coast in July, and Dairokuno is fresh off a great run at the final Kyushu Corporate Ekiden. Masatoshi Sakata , Yota Ifuku , Madoka Tanihara and Daiji Kawai have both come close to sub-2:09 in recent races and could factor in. 57th Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Elite...
1 comment
Read more