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Karanja and Ichiyama Win Sendai International Half Marathon


Running through the lush green of the city, 8000 people ran the June 4 Sendai International Half Marathon, double the number in last year's corona-limited comeback edition.

In the men's race, a trio of international athletes, Joseph Karanja, Charles Kamau and Benard Kimeli, led early and battled over the last 5 km. Nearing the track for the finish, Karanja broke free to win in 1:01:49. It was his first victory in Sendai.

Running the women's race for the first time, Tokyo Olympics marathon 8th-placer Mao Ichiyama won in 1:11:38. Masayuki Higuchi and Tsubasa Kina won the men's and women's wheelchair divisions.

Sendai International Half Marathon

Sendai, Miyagi, 4 June 2023

Women
1. Mao Ichiyama - 1:11:38
2. Sakiho Tsutsui - 1:12:04
3. Joan Kipkemoi - 1:12:33
4. Chiharu Ikeda - 1:12:53
5. Hikari Onishi - 1:13:10
6. Nanami Aoki - 1:13:52
7. Rinka Hida - 1:14:21
8. Yumeno Yamazaki - 1:14:28
9. Eriko Otsuka - 1:15:01
10. Shihoka Kato - 1:15:07

Men
1. Joseph Karanja - 1:01:49
2. Charles Kamau - 1:02:03
3. Benard Kimeli - 1:02:29
4. Kiyoshi Koga - 1:02:42
5. Patrick Wambui - 1:02:55
6. Yuta Shimoda - 1:03:10
7. Naoki Koyama - 1:03:26
8. Yusuke Ogura - 1:03:29
9. Masashi Nonaka - 1:03:32
10. Atsumi Ashiwa - 1:03:35

Women's Wheelchair
1. Tsubasa Kina - 56:24

Men's Wheelchair
1. Masayuki Higuchi - 48:20

source article:
translated and edited by Brett Larner

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Stefan said…
Given the high winds and high temperatures on the day, I think Mao Ichiyama is slowly working her way back after her rib injury and it is fair to disregard the finish time and simply focus on the win. Well done to her. With 4 months to achieve peak fitness for the MGC race I think she is at a very good starting position.
June 5, 2023 at 12:00 PM
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