In a statement on their corporate team's website, Ayumi Hagiwara and Michi Numata announced that they are retiring from competition at the end of this month.
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Hagiwara, 29, is a native of Shizuoka. At Tokoha Kikugawa H.S. she ran in the National High School Ekiden, handling the First Stage. After graduating she joined the Uniqlo corporate team, then transferred to the Toyota Jidoshokki team in 2017. A track specialist with bests of 15:24.56 for 5000 m and 31:36.04 for 10000 m, in both 2013 and 2014 Hagiwara was 3rd in the National Championships 10000 m. In 2013 she won the bronze medal at that distance at the Asian Championships, and again in 2014 at the Asian Games. On Jan. 30 this year she was 15th at the Osaka International Women's Marathon, finishing in 2:34:14.
In her statement Hagiwara wrote, "Even when I was injured and couldn't run the way I wanted, I always got support and encouragement from teammates and fans. You all really helped me keep going." On her Twitter account she added, "I've been an athlete for 18 years now. I love running and want to stay to involved with it in a different way."
Born in Saitama, Numata, 32, went to Ritsumeikan Uji H.S. and on to Ritsumeikan University before joining Toyota Jidoshokki in 2012. She was active in the major ekidens at all three levels winning the bronze in the 10000 m at the 2015 Asian Championships. She also ran Osaka in January, placing 13th in 2:31:52. In her statement she wrote, "While I was on this team I was able to find goals that I didn't have when I joined it. I was blessed to have the people around me that I did, and to be able to have a long career."
translated and edited by Brett Larner
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