61ST FUKUOKA INT’L OPEN MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIP, JAPAN

Samuel Wanjiru, the World Half Marathon record holder, won in a new course record writes Ken Nakamura. Deriba Merga of Ethiopia also finished under the previous course record with a personal best time by nearly seven minutes. Atsushi Sato, the Japanese half marathon record holder improved his best by 1:23 and staked his claim for the Olympic team. Former national record holder Atsushi Fujita finished disappointing eighth, while the current national record holder Toshinari Takaoka was tenth.

Pacemakers Isaac Macharia and Fabiano Joseph kept a steady 3 minutes per kilometre pace as contenders gradually fell behind. After passing halfway in 1:03:30 national record holder Toshinari Takaoka started to fall behind. The pace increased and by 25km, 10 runners, including pacemakers, remained. Soon it was down to Wanjiru, Sato and Merga as Fujita, Shigeru Aburaya and Kensuke Takahashi were dropped soon after 30km. Wanjiru increased the pace after 34km and Sato fell back, soon enough to avoid a dramatic slowdown. Wanjiru led Merga through a 2:52 35th kilometre. The 39th kilometre was a slow 3:11 but Wanjiru kicked at around 40.5km and the race was over.

Wanjiru plans to improve to 2:05 in a spring marathon to make the Olympic marathon team for Kenya. His second marathon will be awaited with much anticipation.

Sato is likely to be selected for the Japanese Olympic team. He married 2004 Olympic 800m competitor Miho Sugimori recently and they have a chance to make it to Beijing together.

MEN:
1 Samuel WANJIRU KEN 2:06:39
2 Deriba MERGA ETH 2:06:50
3 Atsushi SATO JPN 2:07:13
4 Yukou MATSUMIYA JPN 2:09:40
5 Shigeru ABURAYA JPN 2:10:30
6 Kensuke TAKAHASHI JPN 2:11:52
7 Daniel YEGO KEN 2:11:57
8 Atsushi FUJITA JPN 2:12:29
9 Naoki MISHIRO JPN 2:12:56
10 Toshinari TAKAOKA JPN 2:13:40

Source/Courtesy
AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Road Races)
https://aimsworldrunning.org/
AIMS