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 The Nagano Marathon has released the names of its elite field lineup for its 15th running, to be held Apr. 21.  It's a field heavy on veterans, including 40+ runners William Kiplagat (Kenya), Chihiro Tanaka  (Athlec RC) and Yoshimi Hoshino  (eAthletes Shizuoka), imminently retiring former national record holder Atsushi Fujita  (Team Fujitsu) and, freshly departed from the Kyudenko corporate team, top-ranked woman Mika Okunaga (Yufuin Hammock AC). Two of last year's top four men return in the form of Silas Sang  (Kenya) and Alexey Sokolov  (Russia), joined from overseas by silver label Eritrean Isaias Beyn .  The domestic favorite in his fourth marathon of 2013 is Yuki Kawauchi  (Saitama Pref. Gov't), but the interest level in the Japanese field extends further to include silver label men Chiharu Takada  (Team JR Higashi Nihon) and Kazuya Ishida  (Team Nishitetsu) and three men with promising runs at February's Nobe...

by Brett Larner Cooler than usual temperatures helped two Kenyans, winner Francis Kibiwott  and runner-up Silas Sang , take down double Olympic marathon medalist Erick Wainaina 's long-standing Nagano Marathon course record of 2:10:17 on April 15, Kibiwott setting a new mark of 2:09:05 and Sang just five seconds back in a new PB of 2:09:10.  The women's race was a slower affair, but winner Pauline Wangui  (Kenya) still managed a sizeable PB as she won in 2:34:22 by nearly a minute over Ethiopian Belainesh Gebre . Kibiwott, Sang, countryman Moses Kangogo , Russian Alexey Sokolov  and ultramarathon specialist Kiyokatsu Hasegawa  (Team JR Higashi Nihon) set off in a pack of five, but by 20 km it had whittled down to just the three Kenyans.  The trio hit halfway in 1:04:28, with2:08 man  Kangogo falling off after 25 km.  Kibiwott and Sang were together until near the end, Kibiwott emerging on top in a hard push to the finish.  Down 24 second...