Furukawa Wins Katsuta Marathon by 1 Second

Japan's other big marathon this weekend, the Katsuta Marathon saw a tough four-way race in the men's marathon that came down to a sprint finish in the home straight. Tokyo University graduate student Hiroaki Furukawa, who last year launched action against the Hakone Ekiden organizers for not including a select team in the field for Hakone's 100th edition, passed Sota Yamamoto in the final meters to take 1st in 2:17:28 to Yamamoto's 2:17:29. 3rd and 4th-place Tatsuya Inagaki and Yudai Hiruta weren't far behind, Inagaki finishing in 2:17:41 and Hiruta in 2:17:56.

The women's race wasn't as close, but the top three were still only a little more than a minute apart. Kana Numata scored the top spot in 2:44:34, with Natsuki Tomii 2nd in 2:45:33 and Natsumi Kuroda 3rd in 2:45:56. Furukawa and Numata both scored invitations to April's Boston Marathon for their wins, the only Japanese athletes currently in the elite field.

In the 10 km race, high schooler Jecinta Nyokabi rocked a 32:08 to win the women's race by over 2 minutes. Paralympian Yuki Iwata won the men's race by 17 seconds in 30:38.

72nd Katsuta Marathon and 10 km

Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, 26 Jan. 2025

complete results

Women's Marathon

1. Kana Numata (Saysky) - 2:44:34

2. Natsuki Tomii (Tokyo T&F Assoc.) - 2:45:33

3. Natsumi Kuroda (GRlab) - 2:45:56

4. Ai Ishikawa (unattached) - 2:54:32

5. Harue Kikuchi (unattached) - 2:57:22

6. Sonoko Koyama (unattached) - 2:59:20

Men's Marathon

1. Hiroaki Furukawa (Tokyo Univ. Grad School) - 2:17:28

2. Sota Yamamoto (Hanni T&F Assoc.) - 2:17:29

3. Tatsuya Inagaki (Mishima RC) - 2:17:41

4. Yudai Hiruta (K-project) - 2:17:56

5. Yoshiki Murase (Takada SDF Base) - 2:18:54

6. Hyuma Abe (Team Nitro) - 2:19:17

Women's 10 km

1. Jecinta Nyokabi (Hakuho Joshi H.S.) - 32:08

2. Haruka Suguro (Hakuho Joshi H.S.) - 34:20

3. Toshika Tamura (Hitachi) - 35:07

4. Kukuri Murai (Hakuho Joshi H.S.) - 35:25

5. Karen Suzuki (Hitachi) - 35:32

6. Mina Numata (Hakuho Joshi H.S.) - 35:58

Men's 10 km

1. Yuki Iwata (one's Para AC) - 30:38

2. Ryota Kikuchi (Suijo H.S.) - 30:55

3. Kaname Suzuki (Daito Bunka Univ.) - 31:20

4. Yusuke Fujimoto (Toyo Univ.) - 31:33

5. Naoki Saito (Hitachi Iryo) - 31:35

6. Taisei Kano (one's Para AC) - 31:36

East Japan Corporate Ekiden English Commentary

For the time being I'll be using this post for English commentary on today's East Japan Jitsugyodan Ekiden Championships. Reload article to see updates. Race broadcast starts at 1:55 p.m. Japan time. Click here to watch TBS' broadcast online.

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