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Kawauchi Confident of Melbourne Victory: "I'm Going There to Win"

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20131010-OHT1T00190.htm

translated by Brett Larner

Yuki Kawauchi (26, Saitama Pref. Gov't) left Narita Airport Oct. 10 on a plane bound for Australia, where he will race the Oct. 13 Medibank Melbourne Marathon.  Kasukabe H.S. where Kawauchi works has a sister school relationship with a high school in Melbourne, giving him extra impetus to run there, but his main motivation is to add the Melbourne title to his wins last year in Sydney and at Gold Coast in July to complete his Australian triple crown.  "Some 2:07 athletes will be there, so I'm really looking forward to it," he said with confidence.  "I'm going there to win."

After Melbourne Kawauchi will run the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 3 and the Fukuoka International Marathon on Dec. 1, making it three straight months of marathoning.  "New York has nothing but world-class people, so my focus there will be on competing for place.  In Fukuoka the focus will be on time, 2:07.  I've defined different concepts for each race and will do everything I can to see each goal bear fruit."  If successful in Fukuoka he will earn another place on the Japanese national team ahead of next year's Asian Games.

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