Nogami to Represent Japan at Asian Marathon Championships

Keiko Nogami, star runner of the Juhachi Ginko women's ekiden team, will represent Japan in the 16th Asian Marathon Championships Nov. 26 in Dongguan, China. Excited about her first time wearing the Japanese national colors, Nogami said, "I've been given a great opportunity. I'm really targeting a domestic race next year, but since I'm running this one I'll be aiming for the top."

Nogami's training this season has been going well and she is in good shape. At October's Ehime National Sports Festival she finished 3rd in the women's 5000 m, and later the same month at the National Corporate Women's Ekiden Championships qualifying race she took 2nd on its toughest stage, the 10.7 km Third Stage, just 2 seconds from winning it.

Nogami was selected for the Asian Marathon Championships based on her results including August's Hokkaido Marathon, where she finished 2nd in 2:30:11 in just her fourth career marathon. The race takes place the same day as the National Corporate Women's Ekiden, for which the Juhachi Ginko women failed to qualify. "Since we can't run the ekiden, I want to bring some glory to Juhachi Ginko for everyone on the team," she said.

Noguchi had focused on ekiden training through October, but although she will be running short on marathon-specific training, head coach Satoshi Yoshii was optimistic, saying, "Running with the Rising Sun on your vest carries a different weight. The results are important, but I hope that she will gain experience that will aid her in her future races."

Translator's note: Nogami has a best of 2:28:19 from the 2015 Nagoya Women's Marathon. She finished 2nd at the 2015 Gold Coast Airport Marathon, her only previous international race. Japanese men will be represented by Shogo Kanezane (Chugoku Denryoku), who holds a best of 2:14:15 from last year's Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon.

source article:
http://www.nagasaki-np.co.jp/news/kennaitopix/2017/11/22091424053081.shtml
translated by Brett Larner
photo © 2015 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

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