japan running news

http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/general/track/news/20111124k0000m050053000c.html http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/event/sports/news/20111123-OHT1T00269.htm translated and edited by Brett Larner Following a stage win to lead Team Asahi Kasei to a course record win at the Nov. 23 Kyushu Corporate Ekiden Championships, Daegu World Championships marathoner Hiroyuki Horibata  (Team Asahi Kasei) announced that he has committed to run March's Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, the final domestic selection race for the Japanese men's marathon team for next year's London Olympic Games.  Horibata was the top Japanese finisher in Daegu, a strong 7th place overall, but, he said, "Right now my chances  [of making the Olympic team off that performance]  are pretty slim.  I've got to be active in getting my spot." Also on Nov. 23, Nihon University ace sophomore Hirotaka Tamura , 19, revealed that he will be shooting for a place on the Olympic marathon team at Lake Biwa. ...

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sports/0003563550.shtml translated by Brett Larner On Oct. 27 the organizers of the final Kobe National Women's Half Marathon , scheduled for Nov. 21, announced the names of the athletes in this year's elite field. Headlining the race is 2005 and 2007 World Championships marathoner Mari Ozaki (Team Noritz). Also on board are Barcelona Olympian Yumi Matsunaga (nee Kokamo ), Misato Horie (Team Noritz), Chihiro Tanaka (AthleC RC), Miki Oka (Team Kojima Press), Eri Okubo (Second Wind AC) and Satoko Uetani (Kobe Gakuin Univ. AC). Making a special appearance as guest runner is 1997 World Championships marathon gold medalist Hiromi Ito (nee Suzuki ).

http://www.asahi.com/sports/spo/SEB200901210005.html translated by Brett Larner Among the field at the Jan. 25 Osaka International Women's Marathon will be an amateur runner with a special memory. Her name is Yumi Matsunaga, 37, formerly the runner known as 1992 Barcelona Olympics marathoner Yumi Kokamo. After her moment of glory in winning Osaka at age 20, her life changed dramatically. Having passed through scores of setbacks and trials, this mother of two comes back to this year's Osaka to take a step forward in her new running life. Officially entered as an honorary guest runner, this will be Matsunaga's sixth full marathon, but along with her debut at the 1992 Osaka and the Barcelona Olympics it will be only her third time running in 'serious mode.' "I'm going to run as though it were my first marathon," Matsunaga says with a gentle smile. Seventeen years ago in Osaka Matsunaga, a second-year corporate runner with Team Daihatsu, won her debut mara...