On Feb. 1 the Wacoal women's corporate team announced that 2017 London World Championships team member Yuka Ando, 24, has joined its organization. Ando previously ran for the Suzuki Hamamatsu AC team.
Known for her unique "ninja running" style with minimal upper body motion and arms held almost straight down at her sides, Ando ran 2:21:36 at the 2017 Nagoya Women's Marathon to become the fourth-fastest Japanese woman ever and break the debut marathon national record. She placed only an unremarkable 17th at the World Championships later that year, but with a 2:27:37 at the 2018 Osaka International Women's Marathon she qualified for September's MGC Race, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics marathon trials event.
The Suzuki Hamamatsu AC team has undergone repeated coaching staff changes in recent years. In her new environment alongside half marathon national record holder Kayoko Fukushi Ando will now be able to target the Tokyo Olympics.
source article:
https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/athletics/news/201902010000962.html
translated and edited by Brett Larner
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