japan running news

JRN is back in Switzerland this weekend to cover Sunday's Harmony Geneva Marathon.  An IAAF bronze label race, Geneva features quality men's and women's fields led by 2:07:29 man Ronald Korir (Kenya) and defending women's champion Jane Kiptoo (Kenya).  With good weather in the forecast the course records of 2:11:00 and 2:32:34 should be on for updating.  Look for coverage throughout race weekend.

12th Harmony Geneva Marathon Elite Fields
Geneva, Switzerland, 5/8/16
times listed are 2013-16 bests except where noted

Men
Ronald Korir (Kenya) - 2:07:29 (Frankfurt 2014)
Julius Chepkwony (Kenya) - 2:09:00 (Daegu 2014)
Hailu Shume (Ethiopia) - 2:09:27 (Nice-Cannes 2014)
Nixon Machichim (Kenya) - 2:10:14 (Lyon 2015)
Emmanuel Sikuku (Kenya) - 2:11:20 (Zurich 2014)
Daniel Songok (Kenya) - 2:11:46 (Brescia 2013)
Ronny Kiboos (Kenya) - 2:12:08 (Hefei 2014)
Petro Mamu (Eritrea) - 2:15:54 (Zheng Kai 2015)
Tariku Kinfu (Ethiopia) - debut - 1:03:35 (Remich Half 2015)

Women
Jane Kiptoo (…

http://www.iaaf.org/LRR08/news/newsid=48496.html

by Brett Larner

update: Quotes translated from http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2008040600195.

Running in less than ideal conditions of wind and rain, Japanese national marathon record holder Toshinari Takaoka finished 16th in the Paris Marathon on Apr. 6. His time of 2:11:21 was far from his national record of 2:06:16 set at the 2003 Chicago Marathon but marked an improvement over his other recent marathons. Takaoka was injured during 2006 and spent much of 2007 in recovery. "I thought I could break 2:10," said Takaoka, "but it was still a good race. The headwinds after 35 km were just too much. I'm glad I did it, and this isn't the end for me. I still have other things I want to do. Next year there are the World Championships."

The Paris Marathon was won by Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede in an excellent time of 2:06:40, only 7 seconds off the course record. Kenyan Moses Arusei also broke 2:07, running 2:06:50 for 2nd place. Two more runners broke 2:08, and …