Skip to main content

Fujiwara Withdraws From Tokyo Marathon

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2009030200609

translated by Brett Larner

Marathoner Arata Fujiwara (Team JR Higashi Nihon) announced on Mar. 2 that he has withdrawn from this month's Tokyo Marathon due to concerns that he would not recover in time from the fatigue and strain of recent intensive training. Fujiwara was 2nd overall and the top Japanese finisher at last year's Tokyo Marathon but was not selected for the Beijing Olympics.

The Tokyo Marathon is the final selection race for August's World Championships in Berlin. Fujiwara ran in the first selection race, December's Fukuoka International Marathon, where he was the second Japanese finisher and 3rd overall.
Labels:

Comments

Brett Larner said…
This news doesn't surprise me very much. I'm not even sure that Fujiwara was ever seriously considering running Tokyo as he was never listed among the team members doing Tokyo on JR's website. As I wrote in my Mar. 3 article about the WC team, he would have had to be the top Japanese in Tokyo or run a fantastic time to improve on his Fukuoka standing. Anything else would have weakened his position, so it would have been very risky.

At any rate, it doesn't sound like Fujiwara's injured, so maybe he'll turn up in Rotterdam, Boston or London. London would be especially interesting if Atsushi Sato does end up running.
March 4, 2009 at 11:13 AM
BrynRunning said…
Brett.

Firstly just to say thanks for the translations- really enjoy reading them all!

Secondly- what would have happened had Arat finished as second japanese finisher? I must admit that reading your first article it seemed (as someone unused to the Japanese selection criteria!) that arata could have taken second japanese finisher and then with second in two qualification races and no real stand out results at Biwa then it would have been an obvious selection?

Keep up the great work!
March 6, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Brett Larner said…
Hi Bryn. It would be a tough call, especially as a lot would depend on how Atsushi Sato did in London. If Fujiwara ran a fast time but were 2nd Japanese they would probably pick him, but if his time were only so-so they might have said, "Well, now you've proven that you can't even beat other Japanese runners," and gone with Kobayashi. That's just speculation, though. Last time they didn't pick Atsushi Fujita after he won Beppu-Oita in 2:10.

At any rate, the possible scenarios in which Fujiwara would have hurt his chances were higher than those in which he would help them, so it's not surprising he's not running.
March 6, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Post a Comment

Most-Read This Week

Federation Tells World Championships Marathoner Horibata To Go On Diet

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20110307-OHT1T00258.htm translated by Brett Larner Having made the 2011 World Championships marathon team by running a PB of 2:09:25 to come in 3rd overall and as the top Japanese finisher at the Mar. 6 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, Hiroyuki Horibata (24, Team Asahi Kasei), talked to the media at Osaka Airport on Mar. 7. Following Sunday's race Rikuren director Keisuke Sawaki , 67, told Horibata, "Let's cut things down a bit until the World Championships," directing him to go on a diet. The 189 cm Horibata weighs 72 kg [~6'3", 160 lbs]. When he joined Team Asahi Kasei in 2005 at age 18 he weighed 65 kg, and this weight is still generally listed on his profile at races and in the media. "For some reason it never changes," he said with a grin. His coach Takeshi Soh , 58, commented, "If he was hungrier for glory his world would change completely," slapping the 'heavyweight division runner...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nagoya Asian Games Test Event Canceled After Insulation Falls From Venue Ceiling

A section of insulation material fell from the ceiling of Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, the official venue for squash competition at September's Nagoya Asian Games. There were no injuries, but the city suspended use of the arena until its safety could be guaranteed, resulting in the cancelation of the Asian Games squash test event which was scheduled to have begun on May 14. It is not yet clear whether the arena will be usable for the Asian Games as planned. According to city officials, arena staff found that the insulation material had fallen onto a work walkway 13 m above the ground on the night of May 11. The fallen material was 3.6 m long, 50 cm wide and 2.5 km thick, and was found to be waterlogged. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is possible that it was caused by rainwater leaking in from the roof. The same insulation material is installed across the entire ceiling, and the city plans to check for the extent of the possible flooding. Asked whether the arena will be re...
Post a Comment
Read more

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Hakone Ekiden

The Hakone Ekiden is the world's biggest road race, 2 days of road relay action with Japan's 20 best university teams racing 10 half marathon-scale legs from central Tokyo to the mountains east of Mount Fuji and back. The level just keeps going higher and higher , hitting the point this year where there are teams with 10-runner averages of 13:33.10 for 5000 m, 27:55.98 for 10000 m, and 1:01:20 for the half marathon. It's never been better, and with great weather in the forecast it's safe to say this could be one of the best races in Hakone's 102-year history, especially on Day One. If you've seen it then you know NTV's live broadcast is the best sports broadcast in the world, with the pre-race show kicking off at 7:00 a.m. Japan time on the 2nd and 3rd and the race starting at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If you've got a VPN you should be able to watch it on TVer starting at 7:50 a.m. on the 2nd , and again at 7:50 a.m. on the 3rd . There's even a 2-hour high...
3 comments
Read more