Albina Mayorova wins Yokohama Women’s Marathon – By Ken Nakamura

As she did in the 2012 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, Mayorova came from behind to take over the lead after 28Km and went on to win the fifth edition of the Yokohama Women’s Marathon in 2:25:55, fifth fastest time in Yokohama. Azusa Nojiri, a former cross country skier finished second in 2:28:47.

Mizuho Nasukawa, who was second in the last year’s Yokohama Women’s Marathon, was only fourth this year.

How the race unfolded:

Small lead group formed early.  By 3Km, Mizuho Nasukawa, Noriko Higuchi and Hiroko Shoi formed the lead group. As Higuchi was left behind, by 7Km, only Nasukawa and Shoi ran just behind the pace makers. Behind them, Asusa Nojiri started to bridge the gap and by 8Km she joined the lead pack.  After 11Km Shoi also started to drift back.

At that point, Jessica Augusto and Albina Mayorova were running 4th and 5th, respectively, but they were not visible from the lead camera. But soon, Augusto in 4th started to chase the lead pack.  At 20Km, pace makers left the race leaving Nojiri in the lead with Nasukawa just behind her.  Shoi in third running alone, but Augusto was closing. 

After the half way mark, Mayorova started to push the pace really hard and move up to third by 22Km. Up in front Nojiri was slowly leaving Nasukawa behind. Past 26Km, Mayorova passed Nasukawa to move up to second. Nasukawa tried to stay to Mayorova, but unable to do so.

Then past 28Km Mayorova also caught the leader Nojri to take over the lead. Nojiri also attempted to stay with Mayorova, but was unable to do so.  From then on, Mayorova run away from the field to win the marathon.

 

Ken Nakamura

 

Weather: Sunny; Temperature: 16.2C; Humidity: 64%; Wind: 2.2m/s  South East

1)    Albina Mayorova (RUS)         2:25:55

2)    Azusa Nojiri                             2:28:47

3)    Jessica Augusto (POR)             2:29:11

4)    Mizuho Nasukawa                    2:30:27

5)    Philes Ongori (KEN)                  2:31:21

6)    Rene Kalmer (RSA)                  2:32:39

7)    Freya Ross (GBR)                    2:35:19

8)    Noriko Higuchi                        2:37:56

 

Splits:

5Km    17:20  

10Km  34:40  (17:20)

15Km  51:50   (17:10)            

20Km  1:09:14 (17:24)

Half     1:13:02

25Km 1:26:30 (17:16)    Nojiri

30Km  1:43:51 (17:21)    Mayorova

35Km  2:00:57  (17:06)   Mayorova

40Km  2:18:12  (17:15)   Mayorova

Finish   2:25:55  (7:43)     Mayorova