Chepkurui's only real competition is Japan-based Dolphine Omare, winner at last year's National Corporate Half Marathon in 1:07:56. Langat has more serious competition from Japan-based Alexander Mutiso, 58:48 at last year's RAK Half among others, and another five in the mid-to-high 59-minute range. Sub-27:20 10000 m runners Evans Keitany, Jonathan Ndiku and Timothy Kibet should also factor in.
Given that the race will happen at the same time as the Olympic marathon trials there aren't a lot of high-level Japanese athletes in the race. The top woman in Mao Kiyota, 1:11:18 at this race last year, with Toyo University's Kazuki Matsuyama the only Japanese man with a current sub-61 time at 1:00:43 from last year.
The para fields are solid, with both the women's and men's races full of Paralympic medalists and national record holders in different categories. Top women include Tsubasa Kina, Wakako Tsuchida and Misato Michishita, with the men's field featuring Tomoki Suzuki, Tsutomu Nagata, Tadashi Horikoshi and Kenya Karasawa among others.
2nd Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon Elite Field
Tokyo, 15 Oct. 2023
times listed are best within last 3 years except where noted
Women
Gladys Chepkurui (Kenya) - 1:05:46 (Barcelona 2023)
Dolphine Omare (Kenya/U.S.E.) - 1:07:56 (Nat'l Corp. Half 2022)
Hellen Ekalale (Kenya/Toyota Jidoshokki) - 1:09:53 (Gifu Seiryu Half 2023)
Mao Kiyota (Suzuki AC) - 1:11:18 (Tokyo Legacy Half 2022)
Shiho Kaneshige (GRlab Yamaguchi) - 1:12:57 (Sanyo Ladies Half 2021)
Natsuki Ogawa (Suzuki AC) - 1:15:38 (Sanyo Ladies Half 2022)
Para Women
T54 - Tsubasa Kina (Ryukyu Sports Support) - 48:35 (Hamanasu 2023)
T54 - Wakako Tsuchida (Will Raise) - 48:46 (Hamanasu 2022)
T53 - Kazumi Nakayama (unattached) - 1:04:07
T20 - Ayami Takahashi (Miyagi TFC) - 1:33:15 (Sendai Half 2023)
T12 - Misato Michishita (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) - 1:26:58 (Hofu 2019)
T11 - Natsumi Inoguchi (Mizuho Financial Group) - 1:31:41 (Tokyo Legacy 2022)
Men
Alexander Mutiso (Kenya/ND Software) - 58:48 (RAK Half 2022)
Charles Langat (Kenya) - 58:53 (Barcelona 2023)
Benard Kimeli (Kenya/Fujitsu) - 59:32 (Road to Records 2022)
Bedan Karoki (Kenya/Toyota) - 59:37 (Buenos Aires 2023)
Joseph Karanja (Kenya/Aichi Seiko) - 59:48 (Madrid 2021)
Tsegay Kidane (Ethiopia) - 59:49 (Antrim 2023)
Andrew Lorot (Kenya/YKK) - 59:54 (Marugame 2023)
Kazuki Matsuyama (Toyo Univ.) - 1:00:43 (Nat'l Corp. Half 2022)
Evans Keitany (Kenya/Toyota Boshoku) - 27:11.88 (Hachioji 2022)
Jonathan Ndiku (Kenya/Logisteed) - 27:12.84 (Nittai Univ. 2022)
Timothy Kibet (Kenya/Makes)- 27:17.41 (Hengelo 2021)
Jackson Kavesa (Kenya/Chuo Hatsujo) - 27:38.50 (Nittai Univ. 2022)
Para Men
T70 - Koichiro Yamanaka (Tokyo T&F Assoc.) - 1:08:41 (Yokohama 2008)
T54 - Tomoki Suzuki (Toyota) - 38:32 (Oita 2021)
T46 - Tsutomu Nagata (Niigata T&F Assoc.) - 1:10:57 (Beppu Oita 2022)
T20 - Yoshitatsu Hishinuma (Miyagi TFC) - 1:09:21 (National ID Half 2023)
T12 - Tadashi Horikoshi (NTT Nishi Nihon) - 1:08:19 (Nat'l Corp. Half 2013)
T11 - Kenya Karasawa (Subaru) - 1:08:30 (Tokyo Legacy Half 2022)
© 2023 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
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