Mekonnen triumphs in Tokyo in 2:07:35

Tokyo, Japan – Breaking away from Paul Biwott after 33 kilometres, Hailu Mekonnen of Ethiopia won the fifth edition of the Tokyo Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race on Sunday (27), clocking 2:07:35.

“I just slightly picked up the tempo at 33 kilometres, which was enough for me to break away,” said the 30-year-old Mekonnen. It was third fastest time of the year behind Bekana Daba’s 2:07:04 by from Houston and 2:07:18 by David Barmasai from Dubai. “I am very happy to win the Tokyo Marathon, because it’s a very big race.”

Although he well ahead of course record pace for most of the race, he missed the mark by 12 seconds but still improved his own personal best by two seconds, the third straight race in which he’s done so.

Paul Biwott was second with 2:08:17, while Yuki Kawauchi finished third with 2:08:37, and thus qualified for the Japanese World Championships team. 

“I was shooting for a top eight position and sub-2:10 time. I never even imagined myself running 2:08,” said Kawauchi, who was fourth here last year with 2:12:36, which was his personal best before this year’s race. Kawauchi does not belong to a corporate track team like most of other professional runner in Japan. With a full-time job away from running, he trains in his spare time, usually in the morning and then works from the afternoon to around 9PM.

Yoshinori Oda, a Marathon debutante, was fourth with 2:09:03, the third fastest debut clocking ever by a Japanese. Masakazu Fujiwara, who pulled out of the race two days ago, holds the Japanese debut record of 2:08:12. “My plan was to stay with the leader until 30 kilometres. It was fast but I told myself that this is the world class speed. But my legs were shot in the final 5K,” said Oda. He was on pace to break Fujiwara’s Japanese debut record until around 35 kilometres, but then slowed and was passed by Kawauchi with a little over two kilometres left. Kawauchi was the fastest in the final 2.195 kilometres, covering the closing distance in 6:52 while Mekonnen took 6:54.

Arysova takes women’s title

Tatyana Arysova of Russia came from behind to win the women’s race with 2:27:29. She passed Japan’s Yoko Shibui, the leader at the time, at 39.5 kilometres. 

“Although I did not set a personal best (2:26:13 from the 2010 Dublin Marathon), I am happy …

Leading Results:
Weather: Sunny; temperature: 7.2C; humidity: 43%; wind: 1.9m/s West South West

MEN –
1) Hailu Mekonnen (ETH)  2:07:35 (14:57, 14:59, 14:54, 15:04, 15:06, 14:56, 15:02, 15:43, 6:54)
2) Paul Biwott    (KEN)  2:08:17
3) Yuki Kawauchi  (JPN) 2:08:37
4) Yoshinori Oda  (JPN) 2:09:03
5) Cyrus Njui (KEN)  2:09:10
6) Felix Limo (KEN) 2:10:50
7) Takaaki Koda (JPN) 2:11:08
8) Salim Kipsang (KEN) 2:11:25
9) Yemane Tsegay (ETH) 2:11:49
10) Takashi Horiguchi (JPN) 2:12:05

WOMEN –
1) Tatyana Aryasova  (RUS)  2:27:29   (17:38, 17:40, 17:36, 17;41, 17:27, 17:00, 17:25, 17:36, 7:26)
2) Noriko Higuchi  (JPN)  2:28:49
3) Tatyana Petrova (RUS)   2:28:56
4) Yoko Shibui  (JPN)2:29:03
5) Misaki Katsumata (JPN)  2:31:10
6) Sumiko Suzuki (JPN) 2:32:02
7) Rina Yamazaki (JPN)  2:32:51
8) Shoko Miyazaki (JPN)  2:33:10
9) Yumi Hirata (JPN)   2:33:14
10) Olena Burkovska (UKR)   2:33:30
..
15) Nuta Olaru (ROU) 2:41:42

Splits:
Men:
5Km  14:56    Henry Sugut (pace)
10Km 29:56  (15:00)
15Km  44:50  (14:54)   Henry Sugut (pace)
20Km   59:54   (15:04)   Henry Sugut (pace)
Half  63:13    Henry Sugut (pace)
25Km  1:14:59 (15:05)   Henry Sugut (pace0
30Km   1:29:56 (14:57)  Hailu Mekonnen
35Km  1:44:58  (15:02)  Hailu Mekonnen
40Km  2:00:41 (15:43)  Hailu Mekonnen
Finish  2:07:35 (6:54)  Hailu Mekonnen

Women:
5Km  17:20    Misaki Katsumata 
10Km   34:42  (17:22)   Misaki Katsumata
15Km   51:51  (17:09)  Misaki Katsumata
20Km  69:00  (17:09)  Misaki Katsumata
Half  1:12:50   Misaki Katsumata
25Km  1:26:35  (17:35)  Misaki Katsumata
30Km 1:44:08  (17:33)  Yoko Shibui
35Km 2:01:45  (17:37)  Yoko Shibui
40Km 2:20:03  (18:18)  Tatyana Arysasova  (Arysova’s own split is 17:25)
Finish   2:27:29  (7:26)   Tatyana Arysasova