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Japan’s Tomo Morimoto to defend Vienna Marathon title

Posted March 13th, 2007 at 12:34 PM by Ken Nakamura

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Tomo Morimoto, who became the first Japanese athlete to win the Vienna City Marathon when she broke the finish tape in 2:24:33 last year, has decided to return to the Austrian capital to defend her title on Sunday, April 29.

“We are happy and proud that our defending champion Tomo Morimoto will run the Vienna City Marathon again,” said race director Wolfgang Konrad in a media release today. “With her extraordinary performance and her charisma she has become very popular among the people in Vienna.”

Morimoto, who runs for the Tenmaya team, won by over four minutes last year, recording the second-fastest time ever in Vienna. It was also a personal best. Overall, she had a very strong year in 2006, also finishing fifth at the Osaka International Ladies Marathon in 2:27:46, her previous best time.

In Osaka in 2007, Morimoto had a tough race, finishing 12th, nixing her chances of making the Japanese team for the IAAF World Championships. Nonetheless, she is energized to run in Vienna.

“Last year’s race was a very impressive experience for me and the support of the spectators was great,” said the 24 year-old. “I really felt great in Vienna and I am looking forward to coming back.”

Last year’s race recorded 5549 finishers, but a half-marathon, a marathon relay and youth races made for a much bigger event.