Yokohama International Women's Marathon Elite Field

by Brett Larner

The organizers of the Nov. 17 Yokohama International Women's Marathon have released this year's elite field and it is looking pretty okay. 2012 Nagoya Women's Marathon winner Albina Mayorova (Russia) is back in Japan for more and leads the way among the internationals with her 2:23:52 best from Nagoya, joined at the 2:24 level by Yamanashi Gakuin graduate and longtime Hokuren corporate team member Philes Ongori (Kenya) and Jessica Augusto (Portugal). Top Japanese elite Remi Nakazato (Team Daihatsu) with a best of 2:24:28 is something of a question mark after bailing on last month's Berlin Marathon.

Should she falter, #3-ranked domestic woman Mizuho Nasukawa (Team Univ. Ent.), the top Japanese woman last year in an anaemic performance that saw her left off the Moscow World Championships team in favor of an empty seat, is the best bet to pick up the reins. Azusa Nojiri (Hiratsuka Lease) and Eri Okubo (Miki House), both athletes swelling the growing ranks of competitive Japanese athletes forging careers as independents outside the corporate system, fill in the #2 and #4 spots on the domestic roster, with another, talented club runner Maki Inami (AC Kita), in the general division.

Look for detailed coverage, race previews and info on how to follow the race live closer to race date.

Yokohama International Women's Marathon
Yokohama, Kanagawa, 11/17/13

click here for complete field listing

22. Yumiko Hara (AASP Running Club) - 2:23:48 (Osaka Int'l 2007)

1. Albina Mayorova (Russia) - 2:23:52 (Nagoya Women's 2012)

2. Philes Ongori (Kenya) - 2:24:20 (Rotterdam 2011)

11. Remi Nakazato (Team Daihatsu) - 2:24:28 (Nagoya Women's 2012)

3. Jessica Augusto (Portugal) - 2:24:33 (London 2011)

12. Azusa Nojiri (Hiratsuka Lease) - 2:24:57 (Osaka Int'l 2012)

13. Mizuho Nasukawa (Team Univ. Ent.) - 2:25:38 (Tokyo 2009)

14. Eri Okubo (Miki House) - 2:26:08 (Tokyo 2012)

4. Nadia Ejjafini (Italy) - 2:26:15 (Frankfurt 2011)

5. Tetyana Filonyuk (Ukraine) - 2:26:24 (Rome 2010)

6. Freya Ross (Great Britain) - 2:28:10 (London 2012)

15. Noriko Higuchi (Team Wacoal) - 2:28:49 (Tokyo 2011)

7. Rene Kalmer (South Africa) - 2:29:59 (Yokohama Int'l 2011)

16. Hiroko Shoi (Team Nihon ChemiCon) - 2:33:21 (Tokyo 2013)

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East Japan Corporate Ekiden English Commentary

For the time being I'll be using this post for English commentary on today's East Japan Jitsugyodan Ekiden Championships. Reload article to see updates. Race broadcast starts at 1:55 p.m. Japan time. Click here to watch TBS' broadcast online.

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