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Maeda and Mutiso Win Sendai Half, Hattori Struggles in Prague


The Sendai International Half Marathon returned Sunday for the first time in 3 years, with a field limited to 4000 instead of its regular size of 10,000+ and a wave start to reduce crowd density. Running her first race since the Tokyo Olympics marathon and her first race in supershoes, Honami Maeda (Tenmaya) won the women's race in 1:09:08, exactly tying her PB. Her teammates Natsumi Matsushita and Yuna Daito were 2nd and 3rd, making it a Tenmaya sweep of the podium.

In the men's race, world all-time #4 Alexander Mutiso (ND Software) just edged Andrew Lorot (Subaru) to score his second Sendai win, catching Lorot on the track after Lorot took a wrong turn at its entrance. Both runners clocked 1:01:08. Naoki Koyama (Honda) was 3rd in 1:02:07. Tomoki Suzuki (Toyota) won the men's wheelchair race in 46:02, with Wakako Tsuchida (Willraise) taking the women's race in 54:36.

Another Tokyo Olympic marathoner also returned to competition, as Yuma Hattori (Toyota) ran the Prague Marathon in the Czech Republic. Going through halfway just under 3:00/km pace in 1:03:14, Hattori faded badly after 35 km to finish 9th overall in 2:18:06. Kenyan Nobert Kigen won in 2:07:54. Also in Europe, 2022 Asian Games marathon team member Mao Uesugi (Starts) was 7th at the Lisbon Half Marathon in 1:10:58, with teammate Nana Sato 12th in 1:14:03.

Sendai International Half Marathon

Sendai, Miyagi, 8 May 2022

Women
1. Honami Maeda (Tenmaya) - 1:09:08
2. Natsumi Matsushita (Tenmaya) - 1:11:30
3. Yuna Daito (Tenmaya) - 1:11:48
4. Reia Iwade (Adidas) - 1:12:45
5. Chiharu Ikeda (Hitachi) - 1:13:08
6. Kaori Morita (Panasonic) - 1:14:08
7. Toshika Tamura (Hitachi) - 1:14:25
8. Kasumi Yoshida (Aichi Denki) - 1:15:26
9. Akane Sekino (Comodi Iida) - 1:15:42
10. Anna Matsuda (Denso) - 1:15:54

Men
1. Alexander Mutiso (ND Software) - 1:01:08
2. Andrew Lorot (Subaru) - 1:01:08
3. Naoki Koyama (Honda) - 1:02:07
4. Minato Oishi (Toyota) - 1:02:36
5. Shin Kimura (Honda) - 1:02:44
6. Takeshi Nishida (Toyota) - 1:02:52
7. Luka Musembi (Tokyo Kokusai Univ.) - 1:02:56
8. Kenta Murayama (Asahi Kasei) - 1:02:58
9. Hisanori Kitajima (Yasukawa Denki) - 1:02:59
10. Benard Kimani (Comodi Iida) - 1:03:11

Wheelchair Women
1. Wakako Tsuchida (Willraise) - 54:36

Wheelchair Men
1. Tomoki Suzuki (Toyota) - 46:02
2. Ryota Yoshida (SUS) - 46:55
3. Masayuki Higuchi (Puma Japan) - 49:05

source articles:
translated and edited by Brett Larner

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Comments

Stefan said…
What a great result for Honami Maeda! I certainly wasn't expecting her to perform at her best after such a long lay off. I am so pleased for her and congrats to the Tenmaya team for a podium clean sweep. I incorrectly predicted Natsumi Matsushita would prevail in this race. It appears Tenmaya are going to be stronger in the Exidens later in the year. I'm curious to see what events Honami Maeda enters next up and whether she can stay injury free. I think her Olympic campaign was severely compromised due to injury. Her brilliant performance in the MGC race is one that I certainly can't forget. I hope she can fully return to those heights and exceed them.
May 9, 2022 at 9:15 AM
Stefan said…
A follow up comment ... I just realized when watching the race highlights that Honami Maeda is wearing an Asics 'super' shoe, either the Metaspeed Sky or Edge. I can't tell which one but it is an interesting development. She always wore traditional racing flats. I'm guessing her shoe sponsor Asics is very pleased as they can use her as the poster girl for their latest release 'super' shoes now.
May 9, 2022 at 1:49 PM
RigaJags said…
Wow Hattori really imploded badly. I was watching the race till around 30km and he had a solid run until at least 25km.
He was then starting to lose contact but man he must have really slowed down, he was on 2.07-2.08 pace before km 30.
Announcers kept saying it was really hot in Prague yesterday, wonder if that had anything to do with it and if it played a role after what happened at the olympics.
May 9, 2022 at 8:39 PM
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