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WC Silver Medalist Ozaki, '09 NYC Champ Tulu Lead Yokohama Int'l Women's Marathon Elites

http://www.asahi.com/sports/spo/TKY201101250131.html
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/110124/spg1101241747004-n1.htm
http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2011012400672

translated and edited by Brett Larner

On Jan. 24 Rikuren announced the domestic and overseas elite fields for the second running of the Yokohama International Women's Marathon, scheduled for Feb. 20. The domestic field of six includes 2009 World Championships marathon silver medalist Yoshimi Ozaki (Team Daiichi Seimei) and 2010 Nagoya International Women's Marathon 5th place finisher Mayumi Fujita (Team Juhachi Ginko. The foreign field of five is led by 2009 New York City Marathon winner Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia), who holds a marathon best of 2:23:30. 2004 Athens Olympics marathoner Naoko Sakamoto (Team Tenmaya) is entered in the general division.

As a selection race for August's World Championships in Daegu, Korea, the top Japanese woman in Yokohama will earn a place on the team provided she runs under 2:26 on the flatter new course starting and finishing at Yokohama's Yamashita Park. To aid in achieving this time goal Rikuren will employ female pacemakers, including 2010 Sanyo Women's Half Marathon winner Shoko Mori (Team Otsuka Seiyaku). According to Rikuren Long Distance and Road Racing Special Committee member Toshio Kiuchi, the pacemakers will go out targeting a time faster than 2:25.

2011 Yokohama International Women's Marathon Elite Field
Yoshimi Ozaki (Team Daiichi Seimei) - 2:23:30
Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia) - 2:23:30
Azalech Masresha (Ethiopia) - 2:25:34
Marisa Barros (Portugal) - 2:25:44
Alevtina Ivanonva (Russia) - 2:26:38
Karolina Jarzynska (Poland) - 2:29:10
Mayumi Fujita (Team Juhachi Ginko) - 2:29:36
Kaori Yoshida (Amino Vital AC) - 2:29:45
Remi Nakazato (Team Daihatsu) - 2:34:29
Kaoru Nagao (Team Universal Ent.) - debut - 1:10:45
Yuka Izumi (Team Tenmaya) - debut - 1:10:58
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