by Brett Larner
Fujiwara and Rothlin after their mutual DNF at the 2010 New York City Marathon.
London Olympics marathoner Arata Fujiwara (Miki House) went head-to-head against longtime rival and friend Viktor Rothlin (Switzerland) on Rothlin's home ground at the Swiss Ageriseelauf 14.138 km on July 21. Rothlin, who set the still-standing Tokyo Marathon course record of 2:07:23 to win the 2008 Tokyo Marathon ahead of Fujiwara's breakthrough 2:08:40 2nd-place, came out ahead again after losing to Fujiwara at this year's Tokyo Marathon. Rothlin clocked 41:41 to Fujiwara's 41:42, suggesting the pair may be close again in the main event just three weeks away. Eritrean Abraham Tadesse was well back in 3rd in 42:42.
A day later and a lifetime further north, 2011 National Corporate Women's Ekiden Championships runner-up Team Panasonic members Akiko Matsuyama and Yukari Abe made their European debuts at the Great North 10k in Gateshead, U.K. Running on course-record pace, Matsuyama was unable to match strides with G.B.'s Gemma Steel, who became the first woman to run sub-33 in Gateshead as she set a new course record of 32:56. Matsuyama held on for 2nd in 33:07 just ahead of Lauren Howarth who was good for 3rd in 33:09. All three women broke the existing Great North 10k record of 33:22. Abe was a distant 6th in 35:51. Both Matsuyama and Abe appeared in the Great North 10k with assistance from JRN.
2012 Aegeriseelauf (14.138 km)
Switzerland, 7/21/12
click here for complete results
Men
1. Viktor Rothlin (Switzerland) - 41:41
2. Arata Fujiwara (Miki House) - 41:42
3. Abraham Tadesse (Eritrea) - 42:42
2012 Great North 10 km
Gateshead, U.K., 7/22/12
click here for complete results
Women
1. Gemma Steel (GBR) - 32:56 - CR
2. Akiko Matsuyama (Team Panasonic) - 33:07 (CR)
3. Lauren Howarth (GBR) - 33:09 (CR)
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6. Yukari Abe (Team Panasonic) - 35:51
(c) 2012 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
photo (c) 2010 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
Fujiwara and Rothlin after their mutual DNF at the 2010 New York City Marathon.London Olympics marathoner Arata Fujiwara (Miki House) went head-to-head against longtime rival and friend Viktor Rothlin (Switzerland) on Rothlin's home ground at the Swiss Ageriseelauf 14.138 km on July 21. Rothlin, who set the still-standing Tokyo Marathon course record of 2:07:23 to win the 2008 Tokyo Marathon ahead of Fujiwara's breakthrough 2:08:40 2nd-place, came out ahead again after losing to Fujiwara at this year's Tokyo Marathon. Rothlin clocked 41:41 to Fujiwara's 41:42, suggesting the pair may be close again in the main event just three weeks away. Eritrean Abraham Tadesse was well back in 3rd in 42:42.
A day later and a lifetime further north, 2011 National Corporate Women's Ekiden Championships runner-up Team Panasonic members Akiko Matsuyama and Yukari Abe made their European debuts at the Great North 10k in Gateshead, U.K. Running on course-record pace, Matsuyama was unable to match strides with G.B.'s Gemma Steel, who became the first woman to run sub-33 in Gateshead as she set a new course record of 32:56. Matsuyama held on for 2nd in 33:07 just ahead of Lauren Howarth who was good for 3rd in 33:09. All three women broke the existing Great North 10k record of 33:22. Abe was a distant 6th in 35:51. Both Matsuyama and Abe appeared in the Great North 10k with assistance from JRN.
2012 Aegeriseelauf (14.138 km)
Switzerland, 7/21/12
click here for complete results
Men
1. Viktor Rothlin (Switzerland) - 41:41
2. Arata Fujiwara (Miki House) - 41:42
3. Abraham Tadesse (Eritrea) - 42:42
2012 Great North 10 km
Gateshead, U.K., 7/22/12
click here for complete results
Women
1. Gemma Steel (GBR) - 32:56 - CR
2. Akiko Matsuyama (Team Panasonic) - 33:07 (CR)
3. Lauren Howarth (GBR) - 33:09 (CR)
-----
6. Yukari Abe (Team Panasonic) - 35:51
(c) 2012 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
photo (c) 2010 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
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