by Brett Larner
Arata Fujiwara (Team JR Higashi Nihon), who finished 2nd in a time of 2:08:40 behind 2007 World Championships bronze medalist Viktor Rothlin (Switzerland) in this past February's Tokyo Marathon, is scheduled to make his international marathon debut at October's Chicago Marathon.
Fujiwara was an unknown in Tokyo but delivered an inspiring performance in only his second marathon, running a personal best by thirty minutes and holding off Kenyan Olympian Julius Gitahi (Team Nissin Shokuhin) in the final kilometers despite leg cramps which almost forced him to stop. Fujiwara's time in Tokyo appeared to give him an excellent chance for the Beijing Olympics team, but he was reduced to alternate status a few weeks later after Satoshi Osaki (Team NTT Nishi Nihon) ran 2:08:36 at the Biwako Mainichi Marathon.
Fujiwara is training at altitude in Kunming, China throughout September in preparation for Chicago. His motivation to make a mark will be high after not making the Olympics, particularly in light of Osaki's withdrawal from the Olympic marathon the night before the race. A large number of Japanese runners have run 2:08 or even 2:07 once in their career and never shone again, but if Fujiwara's running in Tokyo was any indication he stands an excellent chance of being one of the few to standout overseas.
The Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 12.
Arata Fujiwara (Team JR Higashi Nihon), who finished 2nd in a time of 2:08:40 behind 2007 World Championships bronze medalist Viktor Rothlin (Switzerland) in this past February's Tokyo Marathon, is scheduled to make his international marathon debut at October's Chicago Marathon.
Fujiwara was an unknown in Tokyo but delivered an inspiring performance in only his second marathon, running a personal best by thirty minutes and holding off Kenyan Olympian Julius Gitahi (Team Nissin Shokuhin) in the final kilometers despite leg cramps which almost forced him to stop. Fujiwara's time in Tokyo appeared to give him an excellent chance for the Beijing Olympics team, but he was reduced to alternate status a few weeks later after Satoshi Osaki (Team NTT Nishi Nihon) ran 2:08:36 at the Biwako Mainichi Marathon.
Fujiwara is training at altitude in Kunming, China throughout September in preparation for Chicago. His motivation to make a mark will be high after not making the Olympics, particularly in light of Osaki's withdrawal from the Olympic marathon the night before the race. A large number of Japanese runners have run 2:08 or even 2:07 once in their career and never shone again, but if Fujiwara's running in Tokyo was any indication he stands an excellent chance of being one of the few to standout overseas.
The Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 12.
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