japan running news

by Brett Larner The organizers of the Apr. 20  Nagano Marathon  released the names of this year's elite field on Apr. 1.  2010 Nagano winner  Nicholas Chelimo  (Kenya), 2013 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon champion  Serod Batochir  (Mongolia/Team NTN) and 2012 Nagano runner-up Silas Sang  (Kenya) lead the international field, while 2008 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon winner Tomoya Adachi  (Team Asahi Kasei) headlines the Japanese men's field with a best of 2:10:22. The semi-retired Kiyoko Shimahara  (Second Wind AC) and Mika Okunaga (Yufuin Hammock AC) have the fastest bests in the women's field followed by 2:29 Kenyan Hellen Koskei , but with a 2:31:15 best for 8th at this year's Tokyo Marathon  Rika Shintaku (Team Shimamura) may be the favorite for the win.  Look also for a challenge from Shoko Shimizu  (Team Aichi Denki), 4th at last month's Wanjinshi New Taipei City Marathon. 16th Nagano Marathon Elite Field Nagano, ...

by Brett Larner Bringing in a broadly international field of elite athletes from nine countries in a bid for recognition as an IAAF bronze label race, the Mar. 2 New Taipei City Wanjinshi International Marathon was rewarded with new course records in both the men's and women's races despite unforgiving weather. Men's winner Hassane Ahouchar. With strong headwinds and rain in the first half of the seaside out-and-back course, the men's lead pack went through a leisurely first half just over 1:11 before rounding the turnaround point and turning it on to take advantage of the tailwind.  The men with the two fastest PBs in the field, Gudisa Shentema  (Ethiopia) and Hassane Ahouchar (Morocco), burned off Kenyans Wilson Kibet  and Geoffrey Birgen  and North Korea's Yong Ho Ri  to make it a duel.  Shentema led by a stride on the final uphill to the finish but Ahouchar's kick proved too strong as he took the win in 2:17:17, almost two minutes better than...

by Brett Larner Along with the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, the National University Half Marathon Championships and other domestic action, this weekend, one overseas features noteworthy elite Japanese athletes. In pursuit of an IAAF bronze label and the goal of becoming one of Asia’s premier spring marathons the New Taipei City Wanjinshi International Marathon has expanded its international field this year to include runners from nine countries, among them independents Sho Matsumoto and Yuri Yoshizumi , both running with support from JRN, and corporate league runner Shoko Shimizu (Team Aichi Denki).  A surprise addition to the field is Hokkaido Marathon course record holder  Kiyoko Shimahara  (Second Wind AC), appearing via race sponsor Mizuno. Three men in the field have bests under 2:09, Gudisa Shentema (Ethiopia), Hassane Ahouchar (Morocco) and Paul Kosgei (Kenya), but with none of them having approached that level in the last three years the favorite is ...