This was Japan's biggest marathon weekend since pre-pandemic, with at least four major races going off as scheduled. With 11,597 finishers the Kanazawa Marathon was the fastest of them. Last year's women's winner Mai Fujisawa, 48, ran her fastest time of her six certified marathons so far this year, winning again in 2:38:29. Erika Omi led 8 other women under 2:50, 2nd to Fujisawa in 2:42:55. The men's race was closer, with Kenta Fukumura edging last year's winner Junichi Ushiyama by 17 seconds to win in 2:16:20. 3rd-placer Hayato Sugimoto was the only other runner under 2:20, running 2:19:27.
The Mito Komon Manyu Marathon in Ibaraki also saw a close men's race. Former Nihon University star and longtime Japan resident Benjamin Ngandu returned from a 4-year drug suspension to win in a course record 2:18:02, outkicking this year's 100 km World Championships silver medalist Jumpei Yamaguchi by 12 seconds. Shinobu Ayabe won the women's race in 2:44:40, Kana Kurosawa running 2:45:46 to beat Yuki Mizuseda for 2nd by 18 seconds. 6,965 people finished the race.
With 5,681 starters Shizuoka's Shimada Oikawa Marathon was missing its usual contingent of athletes from the local Suzuki corporate team. In its absence Toru Somiya took the top spot in the men's race in 2:26:26, with Miku Matsui winning the women's race in 2:56:18.
The biggest of the four with 21,839 starters, the Yokohama Marathon had the slowest women's winning time of the day. Yukari Yasutome won in 2:59:11, Tomoo Sakamoto taking the men's race in 2:24:23.
© 2022 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
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