Other races have started canceling as Japan's COVID-19 numbers climb again, but the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon is set to return this year on Feb 6, announcing its elite field on Jan 14. The front end is heavily dominated by people who part of the Miracle in Lake Biwa last year, Shuho Dairokuno (Asahi Kasei) and Tsubasa Ichiyama (Komori Corp.) leading the way at 2:07:12 and 2:07:41 from that race. Four others on the list have run 2:08 recently, three at Lake Biwa, with two 2:09 veterans rounding out a sub-2:10 club that's as good as in any past year at Beppu-Oita, even without an international field. Well, there is one Ethiopian in the race, 2019 Fukuoka 3rd-placer Derese Workneh (Hiramatsu Byoin), but he's locally-based in Kyushu.
But where this year's field really stands out is in its list of first-timers. Sub-61 half marathoners Kiyoshi Koga (Yasukawa Denki) and Yusuke Nishiyama (Toyota) are there fresh off good runs on the New Year Ekiden's longest stage. Track specialist Tetsuya Yoroizaka (Asahi Kasei) is running for real after a couple of less-serious marathon stabs, and likewise doing it off a good New Year run. Last time around Aoyama Gakuin University's Yuya Yoshida made a big impact at Beppu-Oita in his debut, and this time the 2022 Hakone Ekiden champ team has five members on the list including Hakone members Kotaro Kondo and Takayuki Iida, who ran the equivalent of 1:01:20 and 1:02:21 half marathons on their stages, and sub-63 half marathoners Taiki Miyasaka, Ryo Nishikubo and Shungo Yokota.
It should be a great race that cranks out even more quality Japanese marathoners. TBS will be broadcasting it live, and JRN will cover it on @JRNLive. Check back closer to race date for more info.
70th Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon
Elite Field Highlights
Beppu, Oita, Feb. 6, 2022
times listed are best in last 3 years except where noted
Shuho Dairokuno (Asahi Kasei) - 2:07:12 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Tsubasa Ichiyama (Komori Corp.) - 2:07:41 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Daisuke Hosomori (YKK) - 2:08:28 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Hiroto Fujimagari (Toyota Kyushu) - 2:08:30 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Takuya Fujikawa (Chugoku Denryoku) - 2:08:45 (Tokyo 2020)
Yuta Koyama (Toenec) - 2:08:46 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Ryo Hashimoto (GMO) - 2:09:29 (Beppu-Oita 2019)
Hisanori Kitajima (Yasukawa Denki) - 2:09:54 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Shogo Kanezane (Chugoku Denryoku) - 2:10:17 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Tadashi Suzuki (Suzuki) - 2:10:46 (Hofu 2020)
Derese Workneh (Ethiopia/Hiramatsu Byoin) - 2:10:52 (Fukuoka Int'l 2019)
Taiki Yoshimura (Asahi Kasei) - 2:11:13 (Hofu 2019)
Yuichi Okutani (Otsuka Seiyaku) - 2:11:16 (Beppu-Oita 2020)
Tomohiro Tanigawa (Konica Minolta) - 2:11:54 (Hofu 2020)
Debut/Do-Over
Kiyoshi Koga (Yasukawa Denki) - 1:00:49 (Nat'l Corp. Half 2020)
Yusuke Nishiyama (Toyota) - 1:00:55 (Nat'l Corp. Half 2020)
Akira Akasaki (Kyudenko) - 1:01:46 (Ageo City Half 2019)
Tetsuya Yoroizaka (Asahi Kasei) - 1:01:57 (Marugame 2020)
Riki Nakanishi (Toenec) - 1:02:02 (Osaka 2020)
Taiki Miyasaka (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:02:26 (Takanezawa 2020)
Ryo Nishikubo (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:02:30 (Takanezawa 2020)
Shungo Yokota (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:02:36 (Hi-Tech 2022)
Yuya Kawata (Subaru) - 1:02:38 (Nat'l Corp. Half 2021)
Noriaki Oyama (Konica Minolta) - 1:02:41 (Marugame 2020)
Shogo Ise (Konica Minolta) - 1:02:53 (Marugame 2019)
Takayuki Iida (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:03:10 (Takanezawa 2019)
Kotaro Kondo (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:03:42 (Nat'l Univ. Half 2021)
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