http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/article.php?mid=P2008030900093&genre=L1&area=K10
translated by Brett Larner
Komazawa University's Soji Ikeda won the 15th Kyoto City Half Marathon on Mar. 9, starting in front of Kyoto's Heianjingu and breaking the tape on the 21.0975 km course in 1:02:10. Aki Fujikawa of Team Shiseido won the women's race in a time of 1:10:41.
Together with Kazuo Ietani (Team Sanyo Tokushu Seiko), Ikeda broke away from the lead pack of six runners at the 15 km point but could not drop Ietani until the last km, winning by 8 seconds. Kyoto residents Tsukasa Morita (Team Sanyo Tokusho Seiko, Kyoto Sangyo University) and Takahiko Onishi (Kyoto Sangyo University) were 4th and 8th respectively.
Fujikawa had a more commanding win in the women's race, running alone after the halfway point. She was 24 seconds ahead of 2nd place finisher Yui Sakai (Josai University), while last year's winner Ryoko Kisaki (Bukkyo University) was 3rd. Hiroaki Nishihara (Minami Ward) was 1st among the six competitors in the 5 km wheelchair event in a time of 11:03.
Unlike the radiant face fans are used to seeing in university women's ekidens, one notable runner was downcast after the race. Graduating Bukkyo ace Ryoko Kisaki was 35 seconds behind the winner. "I really wanted to win my last race as a student and I feel sorry I couldn't it. But I will make up this sorrow soon when my jitsugyodan career starts."
Fujikawa, who was 8th in the Osaka International Women's Marathon, set a high pace. "The first 5 km were 16:20. I thought it was way too fast, so I slowed down a bit," Kisaki commented after the race. She sat in 2nd place, but with 2 km to go Sakai overtook her. "I tried to stick with her through the 2nd half, but I just couldn't compete with her," she said, dropping her shoulders dejectedly.
After the halfway point Kisaki suffered severe blistering on her right foot, but still managed to hang on for a 1:11:16 PB, 7 seconds faster than her winning time last year. "The soles of my shoes were too thin. Every time my feet hit the ground I really felt the impact. That's never happened to me in a half before, but I learned a lot from it."
Nevertheless, her last race as a student will be a happy memory for Kisaki. She new the course well from practicing on it, and winning last year also helped her self-confidence. The biggest boost to her spirits, however, came from spectator's cheers along the roads. "The cheering for me was unbelievable, and it really helped me to push through the hardest parts. Thank you to everyone who supported me."
Despite her disappointment, Kisaki's run in Kyoto today will give her increased motivation when she enters the Daihatsu jitsugyodan team in April. "I'm able to run thanks to the support I receive from everyone around me," she says, "and I want to always keep that with me." Here's to hoping she takes these memories to a new and higher level.
translated by Brett Larner
Komazawa University's Soji Ikeda won the 15th Kyoto City Half Marathon on Mar. 9, starting in front of Kyoto's Heianjingu and breaking the tape on the 21.0975 km course in 1:02:10. Aki Fujikawa of Team Shiseido won the women's race in a time of 1:10:41.
Together with Kazuo Ietani (Team Sanyo Tokushu Seiko), Ikeda broke away from the lead pack of six runners at the 15 km point but could not drop Ietani until the last km, winning by 8 seconds. Kyoto residents Tsukasa Morita (Team Sanyo Tokusho Seiko, Kyoto Sangyo University) and Takahiko Onishi (Kyoto Sangyo University) were 4th and 8th respectively.
Fujikawa had a more commanding win in the women's race, running alone after the halfway point. She was 24 seconds ahead of 2nd place finisher Yui Sakai (Josai University), while last year's winner Ryoko Kisaki (Bukkyo University) was 3rd. Hiroaki Nishihara (Minami Ward) was 1st among the six competitors in the 5 km wheelchair event in a time of 11:03.
Unlike the radiant face fans are used to seeing in university women's ekidens, one notable runner was downcast after the race. Graduating Bukkyo ace Ryoko Kisaki was 35 seconds behind the winner. "I really wanted to win my last race as a student and I feel sorry I couldn't it. But I will make up this sorrow soon when my jitsugyodan career starts."
Fujikawa, who was 8th in the Osaka International Women's Marathon, set a high pace. "The first 5 km were 16:20. I thought it was way too fast, so I slowed down a bit," Kisaki commented after the race. She sat in 2nd place, but with 2 km to go Sakai overtook her. "I tried to stick with her through the 2nd half, but I just couldn't compete with her," she said, dropping her shoulders dejectedly.
After the halfway point Kisaki suffered severe blistering on her right foot, but still managed to hang on for a 1:11:16 PB, 7 seconds faster than her winning time last year. "The soles of my shoes were too thin. Every time my feet hit the ground I really felt the impact. That's never happened to me in a half before, but I learned a lot from it."
Nevertheless, her last race as a student will be a happy memory for Kisaki. She new the course well from practicing on it, and winning last year also helped her self-confidence. The biggest boost to her spirits, however, came from spectator's cheers along the roads. "The cheering for me was unbelievable, and it really helped me to push through the hardest parts. Thank you to everyone who supported me."
Despite her disappointment, Kisaki's run in Kyoto today will give her increased motivation when she enters the Daihatsu jitsugyodan team in April. "I'm able to run thanks to the support I receive from everyone around me," she says, "and I want to always keep that with me." Here's to hoping she takes these memories to a new and higher level.
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