Noguchi running in the 2002 Nagoya Marathon (© Rikujyo Kyogi Magazine)
Tokyo, JapanMizuki Noguchi, the holder of the second fastest time in Japanese women’s Marathon history, heads a 10 strong Japanese marathon squad to take part in the 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, (23 - 31 August 2003).
The 24-year-old Noguchi, the silver medallist at the World
Half Marathon championhips in 1999 – fourth in both 2000 and 2001 – won the Osaka Ladies Marathon on 26 January 2003 with 2:21:18.
In Japanese terms her time has only been bettered by 2000 Olympic champion Naoko Takahashi's 2:19:46. Takahashi, who will not compete in the World Championships is suffering from a stress fractured left rib which was sustained in November. She had won the Berlin Marathon at the end of October in 2:21:49.
Agencies
Men
Tsuyoshi Ogata – 2nd Fukuoka Marathon, 2:09:15
Shigeru Aburaya – 2nd Tokyo Marathon, 2:09:30
Masakazu Fujiwara – 3rd Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:08:12
Koji Shimizu – 4th Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:08:28
Atsushi Sato – 5th Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:08:50
Reserve - Noriaki Igarashi, 3rd Tokyo Marathon, 2:10:11
Women
Rie Matsuoka – 2nd Tokyo Ladies Marathon, 2:25:02
Mizuki Noguchi – 1st Osaka Ladies Marathon, 2:21:18
Takami Ominami – 1st Nagoya Women's Marathon, 2:25:03
Masako Chiba – 2nd Osaka Ladies Marathon, 2:21:45
Naoko Sakamoto – 3rd Osaka Ladies Marathon, 2:21:51
Reserve - Mari Ozaki, 5th Osaka Ladies Marathon, 2:23:30.
