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Kawauchi Scores Huge Win on Gravel Road Marathon Course

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/athletics/news/f-sp-tp0-20130602-1136884.html

translated by Brett Larner

 Moscow World Championships marathon team member Yuki Kawauchi (26, Saitama Pref. Gov't) won the 33rd edition of the Chitose JAL International Marathon June 2 in a course record 2:18:29.  His time improved the course record, set 25 years ago, by one minute and 32 seconds, beating the 2nd-place finisher by more than nine minutes.  With more than 80% of the course consisting of gravel and dirt roads and an elevation difference of more than 150 m Kawauchi more than overcame whatever doubts he may have had about the World Championships.

In May Kawauchi ran five half marathons.  Post-race he told reporters, "My time wasn't bad, but it's been a long time [sic, 6 weeks] since my last marathon so my legs weren't moving well.  I wanted to run a little bit better than this."

33rd Chitose JAL International Marathon
Chitose, 6/2/13
click here for complete results

Men
1. Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) - 2:18:29 - CR
2. Sho Matsumoto (Dream AC) - 2:27:50
3. Saeki Makino (Kawaguchi T&F Assoc.) - 2:29:57

Women
1. Miwa Shibuya (SRC 904) - 3:24:18
2. Sayumi Niwa - 3:28:36
3. Masumi Kawabe - 3:32:08
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Anonymous said…
solid runner...
June 6, 2013 at 7:04 PM
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