EN
Defending Olympic marathon gold medalist and Japanese national record holder Mizuki Noguchi staged a major comeback on an unexpectedly hot, sunny and windy day after two injury-plagued years away from the marathon, winning the Tokyo International Women`s Marathon in 2:21:37, breaking the eight year-old course record by 35 seconds
Noguchi Wins Tokyo in Course Record 2:21:37 – by Brett Larner – Japan Running News
Defending Olympic marathon gold medalist and Japanese national record holder Mizuki Noguchi staged a major comeback on an unexpectedly hot, sunny and windy day after two injury-plagued years away from the marathon, winning the Tokyo International Women`s Marathon in 2:21:37, breaking the eight year-old course record by 35 seconds and marking the second-fastest time in the world so far this year.
Noguchi ran with rival Yoko Shibui and Salina Kosgei of Kenya until the 30 km point when Shibui abruptly fell off the pace. Two kilometers later, at precisely the 32.2 km point Noguchi attacked and pulled away from Kosgei. Kosgei reeled Noguchi back in over the next kilometer, only to have Noguchi attack and pull away again at the 34 km point. Once more Kosgei caught up, but at the 37 km point in the middle of Tokyo notorious long, uphill finish, Noguchi unleashed her final spurt and dropped Kosgei for good.
At the 35 km point Noguchi was running 2 minutes slower than course record pace (2:22:12, Eri Yamaguchi, 1999) but on the uphill she turned on several sub-3:20 kilometers and continued to push hard to an emotional finish in Tokyo`s Olympic Stadium, smashing Yamaguchi`s record.
The win almost certainly secures a spot for Noguchi on the Beijing Olympic marathon team and is second this year only to Chunxiu Zhou`s 2:20:38 win on the far faster London course. The quality of her performance, especially the strength of her finish, sends a clear message that Noguchi intends to defend her gold medal in Beijing.
by Brett Larner –
Japan Running News
1. Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) 2:21:37, Course Record
2. Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:23:31
3. Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:27:35
4. Akemi Ozaki (JPN) 2:28:39, Personal Best
5. Hiromi Ominami (JPN) 2:30:24
6. Mika Hikichi (JPN) 2:34:14
7. Yoko Shibui (JPN) 2:34:19
8. Zivile Balciunaite (LTU) 2:34:29
Splits:
5Km: 16:38
10Km: 33:27 (16:49)
15Km: 50:23 (16:56)
20Km: 1:07:36 (17:13)
Half :1:11:16
25Km: 1:24:23 (16:47)
30Km: 1:41:02 (16:39)
35Km: 1:57:28 (16:26)
40Km: 2:14:24 (16:56)
Finish: 2:21:37 (7:13)
