Hara takes victory and World Champs berth with 2:23:48 run in Osaka marathon – Because their times are relatively fast and a team of five can enter the Marathon in the World Championships (which incorporates the Marathon World Cup team competition)

Osaka, Japan – Breaking away from Yoko Shibui at 29Km, Yumiko Hara went on to win the 2007 Osaka International Ladies Marathon in 2:23:48 on Sunday (28).

Since she won with sub 2:26 clocking, Hara was automatically selected for the national marathon team for the World Championships race in Osaka on 2 September 2007.

Mari Ozaki finished second in 2:24:39, while a marathon debutante Yuri Kano finished close third in 2:24:43. Nobody else broke 2:30. Because their times are relatively fast and a team of five can enter the Marathon in the World Championships (which incorporates the Marathon World Cup team competition), it is likely Ozaki and Kano will be selected too but it all depends on the results of Nagoya Women’s Marathon in March.

Hara follows Shibui’s lead

As expected Yoko Shibui took off from the start along with pace setter Adriana Pirtea of Romania and Hara who stayed close to them, while rest of …