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Lead Stories: Friday, July 25, 2008

Note on the News: Swarm of Bees Attack Runners

Posted April 7th, 2008 at 1:19 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

At a half-marathon yesterday in Saga City, Japan, a swarm of bees attacked the runners sending dozens to the hospital. Read more here:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23494737-5005961,00.html

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Nakamura Wins Nagoya Marathon, But Olympic Selection Uncertain

Posted March 9th, 2008 at 2:51 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Off of an inexplicably slow first half, Yurika Nakamura of Japan’s Tenmaya team won today’s Nagoya International Ladies Marathon in her debut at the distance, clocking 2:25:51. However, the 21 year-old athlete must now wait to see if her performance was judged good enough by the Japanese federation to be awarded the third and final slot on their Olympic team for Beijing. It is ironic that the choice now comes down to two Tenmaya teammates: Nakamura or 24 year-old Tomo Morimoto who was the first Japanese finisher at the Osaka International Women’s Marathon last January in a faster time: 2:25:34.

“JAAF women’s marathon head coach Shogo Nakamura said in the immediate aftermath of the race that the other coaches jokingly suggested the decision be left to Tenmaya’s head coach, Yutaka Taketomi,” said Brendan Reilly of Boulder Wave, Inc., an athlete management firm in Boulder, Colo., which works with both Nakamura and Morimoto.
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Focus to Be on Japanese Women at Nagoya Marathon Next Sunday

Posted March 4th, 2008 at 10:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Next Sunday’s 28th Nagoya International Women’s Marathon will be the last of six qualifying marathons for the Japanese Olympic team, and the last of three for women. Competition for the one remaining team slot will be intense.

Reiko Tosa locked up the first team spot with her gutsy bronze medal finish at last summer’s IAAF World Championships, while reigning Olympic champion, Mizuki Noguchi, is almost assured a spot on the team by winning last November’s Tokyo International Women’s Marathon in 2:21:37. The third spot will go to either to Tomo Morimoto, who clocked 2:25:34 in second place (first Japanese) at the Osaka International Women’s Marathon last January, OR the top Japanese finisher in Nagoya who should top Morimoto’s mark.
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TFS News Briefs: 2/15/2008

Posted February 15th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, TFS News Briefs, Masters

Tyson Invitational Has High Profile Athletes
The Tyson Invitational meet will be held this weekend at the University of Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Indoor Track in Fayettville. Some huge names will be competing, including Sanya Richards, Wallace Spearmon, Jenn Stuczynski and the shot put and an all-star shot put shootout that will feature Adam Nelson, Reese Hoffa, Christian Cantwell and Dan Taylor.
Read more at: [Google News][Tyson Invitational Start List]

Lagat To Run 10000m in London?
Bernard Lagat has hinted that he may move up in distance for the 2012 London Olympics, saying that, “athletes like Haile Gebrselassie [have shown] how possible it is to be stronger as you get older.” Lagat will compete in the 3000m event this weekend at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham, England.
Read more at: [BirminghamMail.net, UK]

IAAF Tokyo Marathon Preview
The Tokyo Marathon will be held this Sunday, February 18th and it will be doubling as Japan’s Olympic Men’s marathon Trials. A slew of speedy foreign runners has been invited, including Daniel Njenga of Kenya, a 2:06 marathoner. Historically, Japan has been strong in the marathon at the international level, so – with its mix of domestic and foreign talent – this should prove to be a high-octane race.
Read more at: [IAAF][Tokyo Marathon Website]
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Tokyo Marathon Examines Adding Elite Women’s Field in 2009

Posted February 10th, 2008 at 3:45 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons

translated by Brett Larner.

The official meeting of the Tokyo Marathon organizing committee opened Jan. 28 at the Tokyo metropolitan government’s office complex. At the top of the agenda was ratification of the Mar. 22 date for next year’s race. Another major topic of discussion was the addition of an elite women’s race to the existing elite men’s component of the event.

Because next year will see a World Championships (Berlin), The Tokyo Marathon committee, “…would like to see [top] men and women together in the same race.” Rikuren [JAAF] said it will consider all points of view in making its decision on approving the plan.
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Oita and Tokyo Marathons Announce Elite Fields

Posted January 22nd, 2008 at 10:35 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Next month’s Beppu-Oita Mainichi and Tokyo International Marathons have released their elite fields. Included in the elite fields set to compete at the Tokyo Marathon is reigning champion Daniel Njenga of Kenya [Pictured]. Although Njenga is a native Kenya, he lives and trains in Japan for most of the year.

BEPPU-OITA (03-Feb):

Invited International:
Elijah Mutai (KEN) 2:09:27 PB (2005 Chunchon)
Mark Yatich (KEN) 2:09:52 (2003 Los Angeles)
Ruggero Pertile (ITA) 2:10:12 (2004 Roma)
Rachid Kisri (MAR) 2:10:36 (2006 Treviso)
Scott Wescott (AUS) 2:11:36 (2005 Beppu-Oita)
Asheber Girma (ETH) 2:16:39 (2007 Addis Ababa)
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2:06:39 debut victory for Wanjiru in Fukuoka

Posted December 2nd, 2007 at 6:00 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Samuel Wanjiru, the World Half Marathon record holder, won the 61st Fukuoka Marathon with a course record time of 2:06:39, thus fulfilling both of his goals – winning his debut over the distance and setting a course record.

Deriba Merga of Ethiopia, who was the only runner to stay with Wanjiru past the 40th kilometre, finished second in 2:06:50, also under the previous course record of 2:06:51 set by Atsushi Fujita in 2000. It was a huge personal best for Deriba which knocked more than six-and-a-half minutes from his previous best, set in Paris earlier this year.
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Published Report: Paul Tergat Out of Fukuoka Marathon

Posted November 27th, 2007 at 3:45 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Former world record holder in the marathon, Paul Tergat, has abruptly withdrawn from Sunday’s Fukuoka Marathon, according to a published report on the website of Japan’s largest English language newspaper, The Daily Yomiuri.

According to the report, Tergat was called to attend a special Kenyan armed forces training camp. The report said that the information came from the organizers of the marathon itself.

Tergat, 38, was the headline athlete for what is widely regarded as Japan’s most competitive men’s marathon. The race will be held for the 61st time on Sunday. Organizers have used a time-honored formula of inviting a handlful of top overseas athletes, combining them with a group of Japanese stars, and leading them along the course through 30 km with pacemakers who try to help the top runners to a sub-2:07 finish time. In a typical year, only about 300 athletes compete at Fukuoka, and it was to be Tergat’s Fukuoka debut.
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Team USA finishes fourth at International Chiba Ekiden

Posted November 23rd, 2007 at 12:13 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results

Team USA took fourth place at the 2007 International Chiba Ekiden on Friday in Chiba, Japan, finishing in 2:09:05. The host team from Japan won the event in 2:05:56, defeating defending champion Kenya by 1:10. Russia was third in 2:08:00.

Now in its 19th year, the format of the race was revised to feature mixed teams of men and women running six alternating legs totaling 42.195 km as follows: 1st leg, Men 5 km; 2nd leg, Women 5 km; 3rd leg, Men 10 km; 4th leg, Women 5 km; 5th leg, Men 10 km; 6th leg, Women 7.195 km.

Team USA was led off by Pan American Games 5,000 meter gold medalist Ed Moran (Williamsburg, Va.) who ran the opening 5 km in 13:33 to finish third on his leg. Moran then handed off to Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.) for a 5 km leg where she turned in a personal best of 16:11 to put team USA in fourth-place as she handed off to Scott Bauhs (Danville, Calif.) for a 10 km leg. Bauhs also ran a personal best of 28:31 for his 10 km leg to move Team USA into third.
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Team USA departs for International Chiba Ekiden

Posted November 19th, 2007 at 10:24 AM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Team USA departs for Chiba, Japan today for the 2007 Chiba International Ekiden, to be held this Friday, November 23. In addition to Team USA, the marathon relay will feature teams from Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, France and Great Britain.

Ed Moran (Williamsburg, Va.); Ryan Sheehan (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Josh Moen (Waterloo, Iowa), all members of last year’s third-place men’s team, along with 2006 women’s team-member Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.) will return to Chiba to lead Team USA’s combined team.

Other members of the 2007 squad include Melissa White (Rochester Hills, Mich.); Stephanie Rothstein (Eugene, Ore.); Casey Owens (Des Moines, Iowa); and Scott Bauhs (Danville, Calif.).
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