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Bat Ochir Wins Hofu in 2:09:00, Kawauchi Scores Second Sub-2:10 in 14 Days for New World Record

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20131215-00000021-nksports-spo
http://www.asahi.com/articles/SEB201312150013.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner



Mongolia's Serod Bat Ochir ran 2:09:00 to win his third Hofu Yomiuri Marathon title on Dec. 15, running side-by-side in a duel with civil servant runner Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) from 6 km until 32 km before kicking away for the win in his first-ever sub-2:10.  In his eleventh marathon of 2013 Kawauchi finished in 2:09:15 for 2nd.

Fourteen days ago at the Fukuoka International Marathon Kawauchi was 3rd in 2:09:05, vowing "to go where nobody has gone before" in Hofu.  With a second sub-2:10 just fourteen days after Fukuoka he took twenty-eight days off his own world record for the shortest time ever between sub-2:10 marathons.

Kohei Ogino (Team Fujitsu) took 3rd in 2:13:12.  In the women's race defending champion Hisae Yoshimatsu (Shunan City Hall) set a four-second course record of 2:37:57 for the win.

Translator's note: Post-race Kawauchi told JRN, "It was disappointing to lose, but more than competing I was here to run the time.  I'm really happy that I broke 2:10 again.  Next year I'll be back to win!"  On a separate note, this year was the first time in Hofu's history that it not include an elite-level road 10 km alongside the marathon.

 44th Hofu Yomiuri Marathon
Hofu, Yamaguchi, 12/15/13
click here for complete results

 Men
1. Serod Bat Ochir (Mongolia) - 2:09:00 - NR
2. Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) - 2:09:15
3. Kohei Ogino (Team Fujitsu) - 2:13:12
4. Tomoyuki Sato (Team Asahi Kasei) - 2:17:31
5. Yoshihiro Yamamoto (Team Tokuyama) - 2:23:08

Women
1. Hisae Yoshimatsu (Shunan City Hall) - 2:37:57 - PB, CR
2. Chika Tawara (E-Runners AC) - 2:40:00
3. Eiko Ueno (Morino AC) - 2:41:11
4. Nana Higashi (Daiwa Soyukai AC) - 2:52:38
5. Chie Yamada (FRAC Kyushu) - 2:53:20
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