Skip to main content

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

Labels:

Comments

Metts said…
Looking at the Paris results; the 2:30 to 2:50 range or dedicated amateurs, those who have jobs, but still find a way to run a decent marathon. Not just London, NY, Boston, Tokyo etc.
April 10, 2017 at 8:39 AM
Post a Comment

Most-Read This Week

Federation Tells World Championships Marathoner Horibata To Go On Diet

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20110307-OHT1T00258.htm translated by Brett Larner Having made the 2011 World Championships marathon team by running a PB of 2:09:25 to come in 3rd overall and as the top Japanese finisher at the Mar. 6 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, Hiroyuki Horibata (24, Team Asahi Kasei), talked to the media at Osaka Airport on Mar. 7. Following Sunday's race Rikuren director Keisuke Sawaki , 67, told Horibata, "Let's cut things down a bit until the World Championships," directing him to go on a diet. The 189 cm Horibata weighs 72 kg [~6'3", 160 lbs]. When he joined Team Asahi Kasei in 2005 at age 18 he weighed 65 kg, and this weight is still generally listed on his profile at races and in the media. "For some reason it never changes," he said with a grin. His coach Takeshi Soh , 58, commented, "If he was hungrier for glory his world would change completely," slapping the 'heavyweight division runner...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nagoya Asian Games Test Event Canceled After Insulation Falls From Venue Ceiling

A section of insulation material fell from the ceiling of Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, the official venue for squash competition at September's Nagoya Asian Games. There were no injuries, but the city suspended use of the arena until its safety could be guaranteed, resulting in the cancelation of the Asian Games squash test event which was scheduled to have begun on May 14. It is not yet clear whether the arena will be usable for the Asian Games as planned. According to city officials, arena staff found that the insulation material had fallen onto a work walkway 13 m above the ground on the night of May 11. The fallen material was 3.6 m long, 50 cm wide and 2.5 km thick, and was found to be waterlogged. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is possible that it was caused by rainwater leaking in from the roof. The same insulation material is installed across the entire ceiling, and the city plans to check for the extent of the possible flooding. Asked whether the arena will be re...
Post a Comment
Read more

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Hakone Ekiden

The Hakone Ekiden is the world's biggest road race, 2 days of road relay action with Japan's 20 best university teams racing 10 half marathon-scale legs from central Tokyo to the mountains east of Mount Fuji and back. The level just keeps going higher and higher , hitting the point this year where there are teams with 10-runner averages of 13:33.10 for 5000 m, 27:55.98 for 10000 m, and 1:01:20 for the half marathon. It's never been better, and with great weather in the forecast it's safe to say this could be one of the best races in Hakone's 102-year history, especially on Day One. If you've seen it then you know NTV's live broadcast is the best sports broadcast in the world, with the pre-race show kicking off at 7:00 a.m. Japan time on the 2nd and 3rd and the race starting at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If you've got a VPN you should be able to watch it on TVer starting at 7:50 a.m. on the 2nd , and again at 7:50 a.m. on the 3rd . There's even a 2-hour high...
3 comments
Read more