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Chinese Duo Jiaju Zhao and Fuzhao Xiang Dominate UTMF


The morning of Apr. 22 China's Jiaju Zhao arrived at Fujikyu Highland Conifer Forest in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, the finish point of the Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji long course race, covering the 164.7 km distance in 19:35:24 to take the win. Yuya Kawasaki was a close 2nd in 19:54:57, with 1:01:37 half marathoner Tomonori Onitsuka 3rd in 20:59:25.

Just under 5 hours later, Zhao's teammate Fuzhao Xiang won the women's long course race in 24:14:51 to make it a Chinese debutant double. Xiang said that she ran in memory of the late Liang Jin, 2nd at UTMF in 2019.

UTMF is an international trail race through the foothills of Mt. Fuji, put on with international-quality environmental awareness and race management. A total of 3400 people ran this year between the long course and the 68.4 km short course race, the most in the event's history, and international athletes were welcomed back for the first time since 2019.

Japanese athletes took the short course races, with Kento Tamura winning the men's race in 6:45:15 and regional sky running champ Chihiro Aibara taking the women's race in 8:46:31. Complete results here.

source articles:
translated and edited by Brett Larner

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