Tokyo Marathon 2013 – Elite field for Tokyo marathon – By Ken Nakamura

Tokyo Marathon Foundation announced the elite field of the 2013 Tokyo Marathon on January 24, a month before the race. Tokyo Marathon has joined the World Marathon Majors (WMM) this year, and thus the best ever elite field was assembled for the 2013 edition of the race.   

Tadaaki Hayano, the race director/elite athletes' recruiter explains his philosophy on recruitment: "After gaining the IAAF Gold Label in 2010, with joining the WMM in mind, I have been trying to recruit better quality elite runners. For this year, as a member of WMM, I have recruited I have recruited even higher qualify of runners, including four 2:04 runners.

I hear that unless Japanese run well, the race will not attract attention. Of course I want the Japanese to do well, but for that I think it is important to hold truly world class marathon domestically. We must provide the Japanese an opportunity domestically to race against the best in the world. It may be tough at first, but in the long run this is what is required for Japanese to become truly world class marathon runners."

It has been speculated that in order for TV to show Japanese runners in the lead pack, some races did not assemble the best possible field. Tokyo Marathon is different.

 

Invited runners:

Men:

Dennis Kimetto (KEN)            2:04:16            2012 Berlin      Fastest debut on standard course; fastest without the win 

James Kwambai (KEN)          2:04:27            2009 Rotterdam  

Dino Sefir (ETH)                     2:04:50           2012 Dubai     Second fastest runner who never won the marathon

Jonathan Maiyo (KEN)           2:04:56            2012 Dubai      Fastest marathon runner without top 3 finish

Eric Ndiema (KEN)                 2:06:07           2011 Amsterdam    World Junior reocord holder; 3 sub-2:07 streak 

Gilbert Kirwa (KEN)                2:06:14           2009 Frankfurt

Bekele Feyisa (ETH)              2:06:26            2012 Amsterdam

Bernard Kipyego (KEN)          2:06:29           2011 Chicago   one of the five with sub-27 10K, sub 60 half, sub-2:07 marathon 

Michael Kipyego (KEN)          2:06:48            2011 Eindhoven    Defending champion; nobody won Tokyo twice 

Gideon Kipketer (KEN)           2:08:14            2012 Amsterdam

Ahmed Baday (MAR)             2:09:16            2012 Daegu

Essa Isamael Rashed (QAT)  2:09:22            2012 Daegu

Dmitry Safronov (RUS)          2:09:35            2011 London

 

Domestic:

Arata Fujiwara                        2:07:48            2012 Tokyo

Kazuhiro Maeda                      2:08:38            2012 Tokyo

Yoshinori Oda                         2:09:03            2011 Tokyo

Takayuki Matsumiya               2:09.28            2012 Tokyo

Masato Imai                            2:10:32            2011 Fukuoka

Masato Kihara                         Debut              1:01:15 half marathon 2012

Yuki Sato                                Debut              27:38.25 10000m 2009

 

Women:

Irina Mikitenko (GER)             2:19:19            2008 Berlin     Oldest (36) to crack 2:20 

Bezunesh Bekele (ETH)          2:20:30            2012 Dubai

Aberu Kebede (ETH)              2:20:30            2012 Berlin     Have fastest season average (ran 3 marathon) of 2:21:42 

Caroline Kilel (KEN)                2:22:36            2011 Boston

Olena Shurkhno (UKR)          2:23:32            2012 Berlin

Albina Mayorova (RUS)         2:23:52            2012 Nagoya

Atsede Habtamu (ETH)          2:24:25            2011 Berlin

Yeshi Esaiyias (ETH)              2:26:00            2012 Tokyo

Helalia Johannes (NAM)        2:26:09            2012 Olympic Games

Nastassia Staravoitava (BLR) 2:27:24           2012 Dusseldorf

 

Domestic

Yoshimi Ozaki                         2:23:30            2008 Tokyo Women

Azusa Nojiri                             2:24:57            2012 Osaka Women

Noriko Matsuoka                    2:26:54            2011 London

Hiroko Shoi                             Debut              1:10:48 half marathon

 

Other notable elite runners:

Josphat Ndambiri (KEN)        2:07:36            2011 Fukuoka

Mekubo Mogusu (KEN)          2:14:44            2011 Tokyo                sub 60min half marathon runner 

 

Mika Yoshikawa                     Debut              31:28.71 10000m 

 

Ken Nakamura