japan running news

Kenji Yamamoto age: 29 sponsor: Mazda graduated from: Yugakkan H.S., Toyo University best time inside MGC window: 2:08:42, 7th, 2019 Lake Biwa Marathon PB: 2:08:42, 7th, 2019 Lake Biwa Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:55.42 (2013) 10000 m: 28:26.35 (2015) half marathon: 1:01:47 (2014) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 7th, 2019 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:08:42 – PB 9th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:08:48 other major results: 4th, 2019 San Diego Half Marathon, 1:02:01 20th, 2019 National Corporate Half Marathon, 1:02:34 1st, 2019 Chugoku Yamaguchi Ekiden Sixth Stage (15..9 km), 47:49 3rd, New Year Ekiden Fourth Stage (22.4 km), 1:05:30 1st, 2018 Chugoku Corporate Ekiden Third Stage (11.6 km), 35:43 4th, 2018 San Diego Half Marathon, 1:02:45 4th, 2017 San Diego Half Marathon, 1:03:14 10th, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:15:19 2nd, 2012 Hakone Ekiden Third Stage (21.5 km), 1:02:43 1st, 2011 Hakone Ekiden Tenth Stage (23.1 km), 1:09:36 Another ...

Chihiro Miyawaki age: 28 sponsor: Toyota graduated from: Chukyo H.S. best time inside MGC window: 2:08:45, 8th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:08:45, 8th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:35.74 (2011) 10000 m: 27:41.57 (2012) half marathon: 1:00:53 (2012) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 8th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:08:45 – PB 11th, 2017 Chicago Marathon, 2:13:32 other major results: 12th, 2019 Hakodate Half Marathon, 1:03:31 25th, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:16:51 11th, 2015 National Corporate Half Marathon Championships, 1:02:18 15th, 2014 Tokyo Marathon, 2:11:50 3rd, 2013 Kumanichi 30 km, 1:29:51 – PB 4th, 2012 National Corporate Championships 10000 m, 27:41.57 – PB tie 1st, National Corporate Half Marathon Championships, 1:00:53 – PB 3rd, 2011 Hachioji Long Distance Meet 10000 m A-Heat, 27:41.57 – PB Miyawaki is one of the three men in the field who didn’t go to university. He had the skills to have been one of the top Hako...

Reia Iwade age: 24 sponsor: Under Armour graduated from: Toyokawa H.S. best time inside MGC window: 2:23:52, 5th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon PB: 2:23:52, 5th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 15:42.50 (2015) 10000 m: 32:13.21 (2015) half marathon: 1:09:45 (U20 NR, 2013) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 5th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:23:52 – PB 4th, 2018 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:26:28 5th, 2017 Sendai International Marathon, 2:31:11 other major results: 1st, 2019 Osaka Half Marathon, 1:09:46 6th, 2018 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:13:11 9th, 2017 Sanyo Ladies Half Marathon, 1:10:35 4th, 2016 Berlin Marathon, 2:28:16 5th, 2016 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:24:38 5th, 2016 National Corporate Half Marathon Championships, 1:10:53 7th, 2015 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:29:16 3rd, 2015 National Corporate Half Marathon Championships, 1:10:13 3rd, 2014 Yokohama Women’s Marathon, 2:27:21 4th, 2013 Sanyo Ladies...

Yuki Sato age: 32 sponsor: Nissin Shokuhin graduated from: Saku Chosei H.S., Tokai University best time inside MGC window: 2:08:58, 10th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:08:58, 10th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:13.60 (2013) 10000 m: 27:38.25 (2009) half marathon: 1:02:30 (2019) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 16th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:15:07 6th, 2018 Berlin Marathon, 2:09:18 10th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:08:58 – PB DNF, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon other major results: 6th, 2019 HDC Abashiri Meet 10000 m, 28:08.34 2nd, 2019 Gold Coast Half Marathon, 1:02:36 2nd, 2019 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:02:30 – PB DNF, 2019 Marugame Half Marathon 13th, 2019 New Year Ekiden Fourth Stage (22.4 km), 1:06:03 2nd, 2018 East Japan Corporate Ekiden Fifth Stage (7.8 km), 23:00 DNF, 2018 National Championships 10000 m 16th, 2018 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:02:33 15th, 2017 Valencia Half Marathon, 1:02:53 4th, 2017 Natio...

Daisuke Uekado age: 25 sponsor: Otsuka Seiyaku graduated from: Hokuryo H.S., Kyoto Sangyo University best time inside MGC window: 2:09:27, 6th, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon PB: 2:09:27, 6th, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 14:06.13 (2016) 10000 m: 28:48.22 (2013) half marathon: 1:03:28 (2016) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 22nd, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:15:49 8th, 2018 Berlin Marathon, 2:11:07 6th, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:09:27 – PB other major results: 11th, 2019 New Year Ekiden Fourth Stage (22.4 km), 1:05:59 2nd, 2018 Kansai Corporate Ekiden First Stage (12.6 km), 37:54 81st, 2018 Valencia World Half Marathon Championships, 1:04:48 10th, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:12:58 48th, 2016 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:03:28 – PB 1st, 2016 Kyoto Marathon, 2:17:54 Someone else totally unique in the MGC men’s field: Uekado is the only one who graduated from a university outside the Tokyo-centri...

Ryo Hashimoto age: 25 sponsor: GMO graduated from: Oita Nishi H.S., Aoyama Gakuin University best time inside MGC window: 2:09:29, 5th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon PB: 2:09:29, 5th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:57.91 (2016) 10000 m: 28:35.37 (2019) half marathon: 1:02:55 (2019) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 5th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:09:29 – PB 9th, 2018 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:11:40 other major results: 7th, 2019 HDC Fukagawa Meet 10000 m B-Race, 28:35.37 – PB 4th, 2019 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:02:55 – PB 4th, 2018 Year-End Half Marathon, 1:03:31 4th, 2017 Gold Coast Marathon, 2:10:19 20th, 2017 Tokyo Marathon, 2:13:29 1st, 2016 Hofu Marathon, 2:11:20 23rd, 2016 Tokyo Marathon, 2:14:38 Hashimoto is totally unique in the MGC men’s field, someone who went to a Hakone Ekiden champion university but never made its starting roster for Japan’s biggest race. A benchwarmer for four-time Hakon...

Kayoko Fukushi age: 37 sponsor: Wacoal graduated from: Goshogawara Kogyo H.S. best time inside MGC window: 2:24:09, 8th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon PB: 2:22:17, 1st, 2016 Osaka International Women’s Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 14:53.22 (NR, 2005) 10000 m: 30:51.81 (2002) half marathon: 1:07:26 (NR, 2006) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 8th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:24:09 DNF, 2019 Osaka International Women’s Marathon other major results: 5th, 2018 National Corporate Women’s Ekiden Third Stage (10.0 km), 35:15 1st, 2018 National Corporate Women’s Ekiden Qualifier Sixth Stage (6.695 km), 21:22 – CR 14th, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics Marathon, 2:29:53 1st, 2016 Osaka International Women’s Marathon, 2:22:17 – PB 4th, 2015 Chicago Marathon, 2:24:25 3rd, 2013 Moscow World Championships Marathon, 2:27:45 1st, 2013 Osaka International Women’s Marathon, 2:24:21 What’s there to say about Fukushi? She’s got more national records than...

Yuji Iwata age: 32 sponsor: MHPS graduated from: Fukuoka Kogyo H.S. best time inside MGC window: 2:09:30, 6th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon PB: 2:09:30, 6th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 14:08.35 (2014) 10000 m: 28:53.82 (2010) half marathon: 1:03:38 (2011) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 6th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:09:30 – PB 7th, 2018 Hokkaido Marathon, 2:15:09 46th, 2018 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:24:00 other major results: 22nd, 2019 Shibetsu Half Marathon, 1:06:44 3rd, 2019 New Year Ekiden Seventh Stage (15.5 km), 45:50 8th, 2017 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon, 2:12:15 4th, 2015 Hokkaido Marathon, 2:17:29 One of the things about Japanese marathoning, especially on the men’s side, is that the depth makes it so that there’s usually going to be some random guy who busts a 2:08~2:10 out of nowhere. Put Iwata into that category. One of only three men in the field who didn’t go to university, at age 32 Iwata has been in th...

Hayato Sonoda age: 30 sponsor: Kurosaki Harima graduated from: Kumamoto Kokufu H.S., Jobu University best time inside MGC window: 2:09:34, 2nd, 2018 Beppu-Oita Marathon PB: 2:09:34, 2nd, 2018 Beppu-Oita Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 14:05.64 (2016) 10000 m: 28:52.49 (2018) half marathon: 1:03:00 (2016) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 18th, 2019 Boston Marathon, 2:15:58 8th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:10:39 5th, 2018 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:10:31 4th, 2018 Jakarta Asian Games Marathon, 2:19:04 2nd, 2018 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:09:34 – PB 11th, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:12:04 other major results: 33rd, 2019 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, 1:05:42 21st, 2019 Niigata Half Marathon, 1:06:01 27th, 2019 New Year Ekiden Fourth Stage (22.4 km), 1:07:34 5th, 2018 Kyushu Corporate Ekiden Seventh Stage (16.3 km), 47:22 70th, 2018 Valencia World Half Marathon Championships, 1:04:12 7th, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:11:32 4th, 2...

Kohei Ogino age: 29 sponsor: Fujitsu graduated from: Chiben H.S., Koku Gakuin University best time inside MGC window: 2:09:36, 12th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:09:36, 12th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 14:14.12 (2011) 10000 m: 28:56.00 (2010) half marathon: 1:03:18 (2011) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 9th, 2019 Hamburg Marathon, 2:10:15 DNF, 2019 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon 18th, 2018 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:16:04 12th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:09:36 41st, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:24:55 other major results: 10th, 2019 Niigata Half Marathon, 1:03:27 16th, 2017 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:15:10 21st, 2016 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:17:14 3rd, 2015 Nagano Marathon, 2:11:42 3rd, 2015 Ome 30 km Road Race, 1:33:42 Repping Shibuya's Koku Gakuin University , Ogino’s marathon career started off well enough with a 3rd-place finish at the 2015 Ome 30 km as a tune-up for that year’s Nagano Marathon, where he w...

Miyuki Uehara age: 23 sponsor: Daiichi Seimei graduated from: Kagoshima Joshi H.S. best time inside MGC window: 2:24:19, 9th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon PB: 2:24:19, 9th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 15:21.40 (2015) 10000 m: 31:38.80 (2016) half marathon: 1:09:13 (2017) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 9th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:24:19 – PB 9th, 2018 Berlin Marathon, 2:25:46 other major results: 6th, 2019 Hakodate Half Marathon, 1:12:07 6th, 2019 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, 1:11:03 21st, 2018 National Corporate Women’s Ekiden Third Stage (10.9 km), 37:17 5th, 2018 National Championships 5000 m, 15:36.33 2nd, 2017 Sanyo Ladies Half Marathon, 1:09:13 – PB 24th, 2017 London World Championships 10000 m, 32:31.58 3rd, 2017 National Championships 10000 m, 31:48.81 15th, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics 5000 m final, 15:34.99 2nd, 2016 Bolder Boulder 10 km, 34:16 Just 20 at the time, Uehara became only the s...

As a route to qualification for next month's MGC Race Olympic marathon trials the Hokkaido Marathon saw higher-quality results than usual last year, but in its first edition after the closing of the trials qualifying period yesterday's 2019 running had no shortage on quality. In warm conditions the men's race went out conservatively with a 1:06:57 first half and turned into a show of who could negative split the hardest, with the top six all running the second half faster. Ryo Matsumoto , part of the top current marathon program in Japan, Toyota , won by over 30 seconds in 2:12:57 with 2nd through 6th all finishing within 15 seconds of each other in the mid-2:13s. Kasumi Yoshida (Nitori) did a lot of the work in leading the women's pack for the first 30 km before heavy favorite Mirai Waku (Univ. Ent.) took off. Waku had said pre-race that she wanted to break 2:30, but despite falling well short of that she opened a lead of over a minute and a half to win in 2:33:...

Tadashi Isshiki age: 25 sponsor: GMO graduated from: Toyokawa H.S., Aoyama Gakuin University best time inside MGC window: 2:09:43, 13th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:09:43, 13th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:39.65 (2017) 10000 m: 28:23.40 (2014) half marathon: 1:02:09 (2015) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 11th, 2019 Hamburg Marathon, 2:11:23 10th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:12:21 17th, 2018 Frankfurt Marathon, 2:14:49 13th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:09:43 – PB 8th, 2017 Hofu Marathon, 2:15:43 other major results: 20th, 2019 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:02:15 2nd, 2018 Year-End Half Marathon, 1:03:00 4th, 2017 National Championships 5000 m, 13:39.65 – PB DNF, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon 3rd, 2017 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.1 km), 1:07:56 1st, 2016 Kanagawa Half Marathon, 1:03:03 3rd, 2016 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.1 km), 1:07:35 11th, 2016 Tokyo Marathon, 2:11:45 2nd, 2015 Gwangju World University Games Half Marathon, 1...

Akinobu Murasawa age: 28 sponsor: Nissin Shokuhin graduated from: Saku Chosei H.S., Tokai University best time inside MGC window: 2:09:47, 14th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:09:47, 14th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:34.85 (2011) 10000 m: 27:50.59 (2012) 20 km: 59:08 (2009) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 18th, 2018 Frankfurt Marathon, 2:15:41 14th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:09:47 – PB 1st, 2017 Hokkaido Marathon, 2:14:48 other major results: 25th, 2019 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, 1:04:32 34th, 2019 New Year Ekiden Third Stage (13.6 km), 40:25 28th, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:17:51 5th, 2017 Karatsu 10-Miler, 46:46 8th, 2016 National Championships 10000 m, 28:29.10 5th, 2015 National Championships 10000 m, 28:39.39 9th, 2014 Kumamoto Kosa 10-Miler, 46:40 – PB 3rd, 2012 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.2 km), 1:08:14 1st, 2011 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.2 km), 1:06:52 2nd, 2010 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.2 km), 1:08:08...

Jo Fukuda age: 28 sponsor: Nishitetsu graduated from: Omuta H.S., Kokushikan University best time inside MGC window: 2:09:52, 3rd, 2018 Gold Coast Marathon PB: 2:09:52, 3rd, 2018 Gold Coast Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 14:09.18 (2017) 10000 m: 28:44.67 (2017) half marathon: 1:02:25 (2019) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) DNF, 2019 Tokyo Marathon 7th, 2018 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:10:54 3rd, 2018 Gold Coast Marathon, 2:09:52 – PB 23rd, 2018 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:18:16 3rd, 2017 Hokkaido Marathon, 2:15:11 other major results: 7th, 2019 Gold Coast Half Marathon, 1:03:49 26th, 2019 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:02:25 – PB 24th, 2019 National Men’s Ekiden Seventh Stage (13.0 km), 38:38 23rd, 2019 New Year Ekiden Fourth Stage (22.4 km), 1:06:42 3rd, 2018 Kyushu Corporate Ekiden Fifth Stage (13.0 km), 38:27 20th, 2017 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon, 2:16:16 9th, 2016 Hokkaido Marathon, 2:16:29 35th, 2016 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:19:06 ...

Mao Ichiyama age: 22 sponsor: Wacoal graduated from: Izumi Chuo H.S. best time inside MGC window: 2:24:33, 7th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:24:33, 7th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 15:24.17 (2017) 10000 m: 31:49.01 (2017) half marathon: 1:08:49 (2019) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 15th, 2019 London Marathon, 2:27:27 7th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:24:33 other major results: 1st, 2019 Hakodate Half Marathon, 1:08:49 – PB 6th, 2019 National Women’s Ekiden Ninth Stage (10.0 km), 32:12 3rd, 2018 National Corporate Women’s Ekiden First Stage (7.0 km), 22:20 1st, 2018 National Corporate Women’s Ekiden Qualifier Third Stage (10.7 km), 34:23 19th, 2018 World Half Marathon Championships, 1:11:02 3rd, 2017 Sanyo Ladies Half Marathon, 1:09:14 39th, 2017 World Cross Country Championships, 35:53 The next big thing? Part of the Wacoal group with MGC Race qualifiers Kayoko Fukushi and Yuka Ando , Ichiyama took to the longer distanc...

Yoshiki Takenouchi age: 27 sponsor : NTT Nishi Nihon graduated from: Kansaidai Daiichi H.S., Nihon University best time inside MGC window: 2:10:01, 7rd, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon PB: 2:10:01, 7rd, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:56.46 (2015) 10000 m: 28:36.44 (2018) half marathon: 1:03:08 (2019) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) DNS – 2018 Fukuoka International Marathon 30th, 2018 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:20:29 7th, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:10:01 other major results: 8th, 2019 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:03:08 – PB 33rd, 2019 National Corporate Half Marathon, 1:03:13 (PB) DNS – 2019 National Men’s Ekiden Seventh Stage (13.0 km) 2nd, 2018 Kansai Corporate Ekiden Fifth Stage (16.0 km), 48:54 1st, 2018 Hokuren Distance Challenge Fukagawa Meet 10000 m B-race, 28:36.44 – PB 11th, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:13:33 9th, 2015 Hakone Ekiden Third Stage (21.5 km), 1:03:59 The only Ni...

Ryu Takaku age: 26 sponsor: Yakult graduated from: Nasu Takuyo H.S., Toyo University best time inside MGC window: 2:10:03, 7rd, 2019 Hamburg Marathon PB: 2:10:03, 7rd, 2019 Hamburg Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:57.89 (2016) 10000 m: 28:36.71 (2015) half marathon: 1:01:58 (2019) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 7th, 2019 Hamburg Marathon, 2:10:03 – PB 9th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:11:49 30th, 2018 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:19:51 6th, 2018 Gold Coast Marathon, 2:11:45 7th, 2018 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:12:12 other major results: 2nd, 2019 Hakodate Half Marathon, 1:02:43 10th, 2019 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:01:58 – PB 2nd, 2019 New Year Ekiden First Stage (12.3 km), 35:56 13th,, 2018 East Japan Corporate Ekiden Second Stage (15.3 km), 45:53 2nd, 2017 Kumanichi 30 km Road Race, 1:31:18 18th, 2017 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:02:34 5th, 2014 Kumanichi 30 km Road Race, 1:30:32 – PB 1st, 2014 Hakone Ekiden Eighth Stage (21.5 km), 1:04...

Shohei Otsuka age: 25 sponsor: Kyudenko graduated from: Oita Tomei H.S., Komazawa University best time inside MGC window: 2:10:12, 3rd, 2018 Beppu-Oita Marathon PB: 2:10:12, 3rd, 2018 Beppu-Oita Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:55.41 (2018) 10000 m: 28:25.42 (2019) half marathon: 1:02:32 (2014) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 11th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:12:36 4th, 2018 Hokkaido Marathon, 2:12:07 3rd, 2018 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:10:12 other major results: 34th, 2019 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:02:53 25th, 2019 New Year Ekiden Fourth Stage (22.4 km), 1:07:05 8th, 2018 Kumamoto Kosa 10-Miler, 46:21 1st, 2018 Kyushu Corporate Ekiden Seventh Stage (16.3 km), 46:26 16th, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:15:10 1st, 2017 Hakone Ekiden Fifth Stage (20.8 km, ~800 m uphill), 1:12:46 4th, 2015 Kumanichi 30 km Road Race, 1:31:29 2nd, 2015 Hakone Ekiden Eighth Stage (21.4 km), 1:05:45 Otsuka made an early debut in the marathon while still a student a...

Sairi Maeda age: 27 sponsor: Daihatsu graduated from: Kumamoto Shinai Joshi Gakuin H.S., Bukkyo University best time inside MGC window: 2:25:25, 10th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon PB: 2:22:48, 2nd, 2015 Nagoya Women’s Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 15:32.22 (2012) 10000 m: 32:03.43 (2014) half marathon: 1:10:24 (2015) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 10th, 2019 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:25:25 2nd, 2018 Hokkaido Marathon, 2:30:56 15th, 2018 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:30:54 other major results: 13th, 2015 Beijing World Championships Marathon, 2:31:46 1st, 2015 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:10:24 – PB 2nd, 2015 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:22:48 – PB 3rd, 2014 Osaka International Women’s Marathon, 2:26:46 – Univ. NR One of only two women in the field to have gone to university, Maeda set the collegiate national record of 2:26:46 at the Osaka International Women’s Marathon her senior year at Kyoto’s Bukkyo University . In the same rac...

Daichi Kamino age: 26 sponsor: Cell Source graduated from: Chukyo H.S., Aoyama Gakuin University best time inside MGC window: 2:10:18, 18th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:10:18, 18th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:56.05 (2018) 10000 m: 28:17.54 (2016) half marathon: 1:01:04 (2017) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 8th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:11:05 29th, 2018 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:19:28 DNF, 2018 Berlin Marathon 18th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:10:18 13th, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:12:50 other major results: 3rd, 2019 Shibetsu Half Marathon, 1:03:46 7th, 2019 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:03:05 7th, 2018 Ageo City Half Marathon, 1:02:19 17th, 2018 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:02:35 2nd, 2018 New Year Ekiden Seventh Stage (15.5 km), 48:38 3rd, 2017 Ome 30 km Road Race, 1:31:33 5th, 2017 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:01:04 – PB 2nd, 2016 Kumamoto Kosa 10-Miler, 46:38 2nd, 2016 Hakone Ekiden Fifth St...

Kensuke Horio age: 23 sponsor: Toyota graduated from: Suma Gakuen H.S., Chuo University best time inside MGC window: 2:10:21, 5th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:10:21, 5th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:33.51 (2018) 10000 m: 28:34.54 (2016) half marathon: 1:01:57 (2018) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 5th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:10:21 other major results: 3rd, 2019 Okumusashi Ekiden First Stage (9.9 km), 30:03 25th, 2019 National Men's Ekiden Seventh Stage (13.0 km), 38:39 5th, 2019 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.1 km), 1:07:44 6th, 2018 Hakone Ekiden Qualifier Half Marathon, 1:01:57 The youngest man in the field, Horio was the only university runner to qualify for the MGC Race. Tall and running in glasses, he arrived on the scene his senior year at Chuo University with a 1:01:57 at last fall’s Hakone Ekiden Qualifier half marathon that broke the Chuo school record held by his coach, collegiate and debut marathon record ho...

Kengo Suzuki age: 24 sponsor: Fujitsu graduated from: Uwajima Higashi H.S., Kanagawa University best time inside MGC window: 2:10:21, 19th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:10:21, 19th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:57.88 (2016) 10000 m: 28:30.16 (2016) half marathon: 1:01:36 (2017) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 13th, 2019 Hamburg Marathon, 2:11:36 DNS, 2019 Tokyo Marathon 19th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:10:21 other major results: 4th, 2018 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.1 km), 1:07:26 3rd, 2017 Taipei Universiade Half Marathon, 1:06:56 1st, 2017 National University Half Marathon, 1:01:36 – CR 1st, 2017 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.1 km), 1:07:17 3rd, 2016 Hakone Ekiden Qualifier 20 km Road Race, 58:43 3rd, 2016 National University Half Marathon, 1:03:08 Suzuki’s breakthrough to the top level of Japanese distance running came early in 2017 with a win on the Hakone Ekiden’s most competitive stage and two months later with a 1:...

Rei Ohara age: 29 sponsor: Tenmaya graduated from: Kojokan H.S. best time inside MGC window: 2:25:46, 2nd, 2019 Osaka International Women’s Marathon PB: 2:23:20, 3rd, 2016 Nagoya Women’s Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 15:39.47 (2016) 10000 m: 31:48.31 (2015) half marathon: 1:09:17 (2015) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 2nd, 2019 Osaka International Women’s Marathon, 2:25:46 10th, 2018 Berlin Marathon, 2:27:29 8th, 2018 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:27:44 other major results: 2nd, 2019 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:10:25 4th, 2018 National Corporate Women’s Ekiden Sixth Stage (6.795 km), 21:54 3rd, 2018 Sanyo Ladies Half Marathon, 1:10:37 5th, 2017 Sanyo Ladies Half Marathon, 1:09:26 1st, 2017 Osaka Half Marathon, 1:10:02 1st, 2016 Sanyo Ladies Half Marathon, 1:10:04 3rd, 2016 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, 2:23:20 – PB 2nd, 2015 Sanyo Ladies Half Marathon, 1:09:17 – PB 22nd, 2015 Beijing World Championships 10000 m, 32:47.74 3rd, 201...

Masato Imai age: 35 sponsor: Toyota Kyushu graduated from: Haramachi H.S., Juntendo University best time inside MGC window: 2:10:30, 6th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon PB: 2:07:39, 7th, 2015 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:47.15 (2014) 10000 m: 28:18.15 (2010) half marathon: 1:02:36 (2017) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019) 6th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:10:30 9th, 2018 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:11:38 10th, 2017 Eindhoven Marathon, 2:17:00 other major results: 17th, 2019 Shibetsu Half Marathon, 1:06:05 10th, 2019 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:03:19 3rd, 2019 New Year Ekiden Fourth Stage (22.4 km), 1:05:30 9th, 2018 Kumamoto Kosa 10-Mile Road Race, 46:22 – PB 14th, 2017 Tokyo Marathon, 2:11:02 2nd, 2017 Shibetsu Half Marathon, 1:03:44 5th, 2017 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:02:36 – PB 1st, 2016 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:03:06 7th, 2015 Tokyo Marathon, 2:07:39 – PB 2nd, 2014 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon, 2:09:30 1st, ...

Hiroyuki Yamamoto age: 33 sponsor: Konica Minolta graduated from: Kawaguchi Kita H.S., Toyo University best time inside MGC window: 2:10:33, 10th, 2019 Lake Biwa Marathon PB: 2:09:12, 10th, 2017 Tokyo Marathon other PBs: 5000 m: 13:45.43 (2010) 10000 m: 27:55.40 (2015) half marathon: 1:02:43 (2013) marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019): 10th, 2019 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:10:33 DNF, 2018 Tokyo Marathon DNS, 2017 New York City Marathon other major results: 6th, 2019 New Year Ekiden Fifth Stage (15.8 km), 46:53 6th, 2018 Great North Run Half Marathon, 1:02:49 5th, 2017 Great North Run Half Marathon, 1:02:03 4th, 2016 New York City Marathon, 2:11:49 3rd, 2015 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:11:48 Yamamoto was a member of Toyo University’s 2009 team that won the Hakone Ekiden for the first time in school history and launched Hakone’s transition into the modern era. A solid meat and potatoes marathoner, Yamamoto has been reliably at the 2:09 to 2:1...