EN
Just five days given the time difference after winning the Boston Marathon, Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov’t) outkicked Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon runner-up Hayato Sonoda (Kurosaki Harima) to take 14th overall in 1:04:35 with the third-fastest closing split in the field despite unseasonably hot temperatures nearing 30 degrees.
Women’s world record holder and defending champion Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) was a last-minute withdrawal, leaving Degitu Azmeraw to become Gifu’s first Ethiopian women’s winner in five years. Like Kosimbei, Azmeraw broke free of the competition over the last 5 km, opening an 18-second lead over Valary Jemeli (Kenya) for 1st in 1:09:53. Marie Imada (Iwatani Sangyo) was the top Japanese woman at 7th in 1:14:20.
8th Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon
Gifu, 4/22/18
Men
1. Nicholas Kosimbei (Kenya/Toyota) – 1:01:12
2. Alexander Mutiso (Kenya/ND Software) – 1:01:24
3. Moses Murong (Uganda) – 1:01:57
4. James Mwangi (Kenya/NTN) – 1:02:14
5. Edward Waweru (Kenya/NTN) – 1:02:29
6. Joel Mwaura (Kenya/Kurosaki Harima) – 1:02:59
7. Michael Githae (Kenya/Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) – 1:03:09
8. Daniel Muiva Kitonyi (Kenya/Kanebo) – 1:03:27
9. Yohei Suzuki (Japan/Aisan Kogyo) – 1:03:34
10. Patrick Muendo Mwaka (Kenya/Aisan Kogyo) – 1:03:40
—–
14. Yuki Kawauchi (Japan/Saitama Pref. Gov’t) – 1:04:35
Women
1. Degitu Azmeraw (Ethiopia) – 1:09:53
2. Valary Jemeli (Kenya) – 1:10:11
3. Joy Kemuma (Kenya) – 1:10:47
4. Andrea Seccafien (Canada) – 1:13:19
5. Sinead Diver (Australia) – 1:13:23
6. Karolina Nadolska (Poland) – 1:13:56
7. Marie Imada (Japan/Iwatani Sangyo) – 1:14:20
8. Yuko Watanabe (Japan/Edion) – 1:14:51
9. Sayo Nomura (Japan/Uniqlo) – 1:17:08
10. Sakura Wada (Japan/Denso) – 1:17:51
© 2018 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
Brett Larner – Japan Running News
