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Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Elite Field


Another big race on the MGC qualifying calendar has posted its elite fields, the Dec. 6 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon. At this point it's only a partial listing without the general elite field, but even so it looks like a good race for the single MGC spot up for women under 2:27, and the 6 spots for men sub-2:09. Yuka Ando is the favorite in the women's race with a 2:21:18 in Nagoya 2 years ago, with her only real competition coming from Ayumi Morita, who broke 2:27 in Hofu last year but missed qualifying by not being the first Japanese woman across the line.

CR holder Workneh Derese is back after his 2:06:58 win last year, leading Kenyan veteran Bedan Karoki and 4 Japanese men with a solid chance at sub-2:09, Tatsuya Maruyama, Ryoma Takeuchi, Shuho Dairokuno and Kento Nishi. Takeuchi set his 2:08:20 PB at Gold Coast in July, and Dairokuno is fresh off a great run at the final Kyushu Corporate Ekiden. Masatoshi Sakata and Daiji Kawai have both come close to sub-2:09 in recent races and could factor in along with other general division people yet to be announced. We'll update this listing when that happens.

57th Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Elite Field Highlights

Hofu, Yamaguchi, 6 Dec. 2026
times listed are athletes' best within last 3 years except where noted

Women
Yuka Ando (Shimamura) - 2:21:18 (2024 Nagoya Women's Marathon)
Ayumi Morita (Tokyo Metro) - 2:26:48 (2025 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon)
Miku Hirashima (Tenmaya) - 2:31:45 (2024 Grandma's Marathon)

Men
Workneh Derese (Ethiopia/Hiramatsu Byoin) - 2:06:58 (2025 Hofu Marathon)
Tatsuya Maruyama (Komori Corporation) - 2:07:06 (2025 Tokyo Marathon)
Bedan Karoki (Kenya/Toyota) - 2:07:59 (2024 Tokyo Marathon)
Ryoma Takeuchi (ND Software) - 2:08:20 (2026 Gold Coast Marathon)
Shuho Dairokuno (Asahi Kasei) - 2:08:35 (2026 Osaka Marathon)
Kento Nishi (Osaka Gas) - 2:08:49 (2026 Osaka Marathon)
Masatoshi Sakata (NTN) - 2:09:08 (2025 Osaka Marathon)
Ser-Od Bat-Ochir (Mongolia) - 2:10:10 (2024 Osaka Marathon)
Daiji Kawai (Toenec) - 2:10:24 (2025 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon)
Yuki Kawauchi (ANDS) - 2:14:30 (2026 Osaka Marathon)

© 2026 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

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