Weekend Overseas Road Race Roundup

by Brett Larner

Japanese runners turned up at three international races over the weekend. Every year top-placing finishers at November's Ohtawara Marathon get send to the Paris Marathon. Having turned down the 2016 trip after the Paris terror attacks, two-time Ohtawara women's winner Hiroko Yoshitomi went this time, taking 9th in 2:38:46 in her fifth marathon of 2017. Men's winner Takahiro Gunji went under 2:20 for the first time, 21st in a PB 2:19:01 just behind Kansuke Morihashi, who took 20th in 2:18:22.

At the Hannover Marathon, Hideyuki Ikegami, a young independent who has received support from London Olympian Arata Fujiwara in recent years, made his marathon debut. A 1:03:09 half marathoner, Ikegami came into Hannover with a 1:31:53 win at the Osaka 30 km in December and altitude training in Kenya with Fujiwara after that behind him, but despite starting out at an ambitious 2:10 pace Ikegami slowed progressively. Between 25 and 30 km he ran into serious trouble, slowing to almost 4 min/km, but despite the early problems he gutted it out to finish 10th in 2:30:15.

At Hawaii's Hapalua Half Marathon, retired pro Yuki Yagi and Rio Olympian Kayoko Fukushi represented Japan in the event's interesting handicap start chase race. Yagi ran the third-fastest time among the men but couldn't make up his handicap, taking 10th among men. Fukushi was the fastest woman by more than five minutes in 1:17:03 but likewise couldn't close the ground to the top position, taking 7th among women and 18th overall.

Paris Marathon
Paris, France, 4/9/17
click here for complete results

Men
1. Paul Lonyangata (Kenya) - 2:06:10
2. Stephen Chebogut (Kenya) - 2:06:57
3. Solomon Yego (Kenya) - 2:07:12
4. Yitayal Atnafu (Ethiopia) - 2:07:21
5. Abayneh Ayele (Ethiopia) - 2:07:42
-----
20. Kansuke Morihashi (Japan) - 2:18:22
21. Takahiro Gunji (Japan) - 2:19:01 - PB

Women
1. Purity Rionoripo (Kenya) - 2:20:55 - CR
2. Agnes Barsosio (Kenya) - 2:20:59
3. Flomena Cheyech Daniel (Kenya) - 2:21:22
4. Visiline Jepkesho (Kenya) - 2:21:37
5. Yebrgual Melese (Ethiopia) - 2:22:51
-----
9. Hiroko Yoshitomi (Japan) - 2:38:46
11. Mitsuko Ino (Japan) - 2:42:37

Hannover Marathon
Hannover, Germany, 4/9/17
click here for complete results

Men
1. Allan Kipkorir Kiprono (Kenya) - 2:09:52
2. Philip Kimutai Sanga (Kenya) - 2:10:07
3. Sondre Nordstad Moen (Norway) - 2:10:07
4. Nichola Manza Kamakya (Kenya) - 2:11:35
5. Lusapho April (South Africa) - 2:11:41
-----
10. Hideyuki Ikegami (Japan) - 2:30:15

Women
1. Fate Tola (Germany) - 2:27:48
2. Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine) - 2:33:20
3. Mulunesh Zewdu Asefa (Ethiopia) - 2:37:27
4. Tetyana Vernygor (Ukraine) - 2:38:48
5. Zhanna Mamazhanova (Kazakhstan) - 2:47:36

Hapalua Half Marathon
Honolulu, U.S.A., 4/9/17
click here for complete results

Men
1. Philip Tarbei (Kenya) - 1:03:27
2. Ryan Tsang (U.S.A.) - 1:16:05
3. Abraham Kipyatich (Kenya) - 1:05:28
-----
10. Yuki Yagi (Japan) - 1:09:31

Women
1. Malia Crouse (U.S.A.) - 1:22:55
2. Kathleen O'Neil (U.S.A.) - 1:23:06
3. Evelina Mansson (U.S.A.) - 1:29:16
-----
7. Kayoko Fukushi (Japan) - 1:17:03

© 2017 Brett Larner
all rights reserved

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