Yokohama International Women\’s Marathon Elite Field – by Brett Larner – Japan Running News

The organizers of the Nov. 17 Yokohama International Women's Marathon have released this year's elite field and it is looking pretty okay.  2012 Nagoya Women's Marathon winner Albina Mayorova (Russia) is back in Japan for more and leads the way among the internationals with her 2:23:52 best from Nagoya, joined at the 2:24 level by Yamanashi Gakuin graduate and longtime Hokuren corporate team member Philes Ongori (Kenya) and Jessica Augusto (Portugal).  

Top Japanese elite Remi Nakazato (Team Daihatsu) with a best of 2:24:28 is something of a question mark after bailing on last month's Berlin Marathon.

Should she falter, #3-ranked domestic woman Mizuho Nasukawa (Team Univ. Ent.), the top Japanese woman last year in an anaemic performance that saw her left off the Moscow World Championships team in favor of an empty seat, is the best bet to pick up the reins.  Azusa Nojiri (Hiratsuka Lease) and Eri Okubo (Miki House), both athletes swelling the growing ranks of competitive Japanese athletes forging careers as independents outside the corporate system, fill in the #2 and #4 spots on the domestic roster, with another, talented club runner Maki Inami (AC Kita), in the general division.

Look for detailed coverage, race previews and info on how to follow the race live closer to race date.

Yokohama International Women's Marathon
Yokohama, Kanagawa, 11/17/13