Skip to main content

Honda Runners Fujiwara and Ishikawa 9-10 in Berlin Marathon

by Brett Larner

photo by Dr. Helmut Winter

2010 Tokyo Marathon winner and collegiate/debut marathon national record holder Masakazu Fujiwara (Team Honda) had a minor breakthrough at the 2012 Berlin Marathon, breaking 2:12 for the first time since his 2:08:12 marathon debut in 2003 to take 9th place, the first non-Kenyan finisher. Setting out at mid-2:08 pace, Fujiwara and 2:11 men Suehiro Ishikawa (Team Honda) and Atsushi Ikawa (Team Otsuka Seiyaku) ran together, fading off that seemingly reasonable pace as a group with each passing 5 km split even as the lead pack spearheaded by eventual winner Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) accelerated. Ishikawa, who debuted in 2:11:14 at March's Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, briefly ran into trouble just before 30 km but quickly recovered. After 32 km it was Ikawa, coached by 2:06 man Takayuki Inubushi, who faded, 24 seconds behind Fujiwara and Ishikawa by 35 km.

Just as Mutai was non-battling debuting 25 km world record holder Dennis Kimetto (25 km) down the home straight for the win in 2:04:15, Fujiwara broke away from teammate Ishikawa before 40 km to head in to the finish without pressure.  Ishikawa took 10th in 2:11:46 while far behind him Ikawa faded badly to 16th, finishing in a career-worst 2:14:20.  In the women's race 2010 Nagoya International Women's Marathon winner Yuri Kano (Team Shiseido) took an introduction on the starting line but did not record even a 5 km split.  In her absence, the top Japanese woman was Yuka Aikawa, 18th in 2:49:52.

2012 Berlin Marathon
Berlin, Germany, 9/30/12
click here for complete results

Men
1. Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) - 2:04:15
2. Dennis Kimetto (Kenya) - 2:04:16 - debut
3. Geoffrey Kipsang (Kenya) - 2:06:12 - debut
4. Nicholas Kamakya (Kenya) - 2:08:28
5. Josphat Keiyo (Kenya) - 2:08:41
6. Jonathan Maiyo (Kenya) - 2:09:19
7. Eliud Kiptanui (Kenya) - 2:09:59
8. Felix Keny (Kenya) - 2:10:22
9. Masakazu Fujiwara (Team Honda) - 2:11:31
10. Suehiro Ishikawa (Team Honda) - 2:11:46
-----
16. Atsushi Ikawa (Team Otsuka Seiyaku) - 2:14:20

Women
1. Aberu Kebede (Ethiopia) - 2:20:30
2. Tirfi Tsegaye (Ethiopia) - 2:21:19
3. Olena Shurhno (Ukraine) - 2:23:32
4. Flomena Chepchirchir (Kenya) - 2:24:56
5. Fate Tola (Ethiopia) - 2:25:14
6. Alevtina Biktimirova (Russia) - 2:28:45
7. Caroline Chepkwnoy (Kenya) - 2:30:34
8. Anna Hahner (Germany) - 2:30:37
9. Sonia Samuels (GBR) - 2:30:56
10. Degefa Biruktayit (Ethiopia) - 2:33:27
-----
DNF - Yuri Kano (Team Shiseido)

(c) 2012 Brett Larner
all rights reserved

photo (c) 2012 Dr. Helmut Winter
all rights reserved
Labels:

Comments

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