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Tokyo International Marathon announces elite field

Posted February 13th, 2007 at 3:35 AM by Ken Nakamura

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The Tokyo International Marathon, which for the first time will be held as a mass marathon with the participation of recreational runners, has released its elite international and Japanese fields. The 28th running of the event, scheduled for Sunday, February 18, will only have male elite athletes.

The two heavyweights amongst the overseas competitors are Daniel Njenga and Sammy Korir, both of Kenya, the #9 and #10-ranked marathoners in the world last year according to Race Results Weekly’s exclusive marathoner rankings.

Njenga has a personal best time of 2:06:16 set in Chicago in 2002, and Korir is the second-fastest marathoner ever, with a 2:04:56 career best set in Berlin in 2003 when he finished one second behind Paul Tergat when he set the still-standing world record.

Also from overseas, aging Olympic medalist, Vanderlei Lima of Brazil (2:08:31 PB), will take part along with 2005 World Championships silver medalist, Christopher Isegwe of Tanzania (2:10:21). Getuli Bayo of Tanzania (2:10:45) and Vladimir Tyamczik of Belarus (2:11:38) round out the international field.

The Japanese invited athletes are led by Shigeru Aburaya, with a 2:07:52 personal best set back in 2001 at Lake Biwa. Satoshi Irivune (2:09:58), Yuichi Washio (2:11:05), Tomoyuki Sato (2:09:43), Takehisa Okino (2:12:24), Yusuke Kataoka (2:13:09), Tadayuki Ojima (2:08:18), and Michitane Noda (2:09:58) have also been announced. The first Japanese to cross the finish line in under 2:09:30 will be assured a berth on the Japanese squad for the IAAF World Championships in Osaka in September.

The pacemakers will be Joseph Kariuki and Ben Kimondiu of Kenya, Francesco Ingargiola of Italy and Lee Troop of Australia.