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Kosimbei and Azmeraw Win Gifu Seiryu Half, Kawauchi 14th

Breaking away over the last 5 km, Nicholas Kosimbei (Toyota) scored his second-straight win at the Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, putting 12 seconds on Alexander Mutiso (ND Software) to take the top spot in 1:01:12. Moses Murong (Uganda) was 3rd in 1:01:57, with Yohei Suzuki (Aisan Kogyo) the top-placing Japanese man with a 1:03:34 for 9th.

Just five days given the time difference after winning the Boston Marathon, Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) outkicked Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon runner-up Hayato Sonoda (Kurosaki Harima) to take 14th overall in 1:04:35 with the third-fastest closing split in the field despite unseasonably hot temperatures nearing 30 degrees.

Women's world record holder and defending champion Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) was a last-minute withdrawal, leaving Degitu Azmeraw to become Gifu's first Ethiopian women's winner in five years. Like Kosimbei, Azmeraw broke free of the competition over the last 5 km, opening an 18-second lead over Valary Jemeli (Kenya) for 1st in 1:09:53. Marie Imada (Iwatani Sangyo) was the top Japanese woman at 7th in 1:14:20.

8th Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon

Gifu, 4/22/18

Men
1. Nicholas Kosimbei (Kenya/Toyota) - 1:01:12
2. Alexander Mutiso (Kenya/ND Software) - 1:01:24
3. Moses Murong (Uganda) - 1:01:57
4. James Mwangi (Kenya/NTN) - 1:02:14
5. Edward Waweru (Kenya/NTN) - 1:02:29
6. Joel Mwaura (Kenya/Kurosaki Harima) - 1:02:59
7. Michael Githae (Kenya/Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) - 1:03:09
8. Daniel Muiva Kitonyi (Kenya/Kanebo) - 1:03:27
9. Yohei Suzuki (Japan/Aisan Kogyo) - 1:03:34
10. Patrick Muendo Mwaka (Kenya/Aisan Kogyo) - 1:03:40
-----
14. Yuki Kawauchi (Japan/Saitama Pref. Gov't) - 1:04:35

Women
1. Degitu Azmeraw (Ethiopia) - 1:09:53
2. Valary Jemeli (Kenya) - 1:10:11
3. Joy Kemuma (Kenya) - 1:10:47
4. Andrea Seccafien (Canada) - 1:13:19
5. Sinead Diver (Australia) - 1:13:23
6. Karolina Nadolska (Poland) - 1:13:56
7. Marie Imada (Japan/Iwatani Sangyo) - 1:14:20
8. Yuko Watanabe (Japan/Edion) - 1:14:51
9. Sayo Nomura (Japan/Uniqlo) - 1:17:08
10. Sakura Wada (Japan/Denso) - 1:17:51

© 2018 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
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Comments

sensato said…
Sorry, but I understand that her right name is Degitu AzImeraw with taht "I" ... that is not right like you wrote Azmeraw...
August 1, 2018 at 3:33 AM
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