Takahashi enjoys easy victory in preparation for
Sydney Olympics
Agencies
2 July 2000 - Sapporo, Japan - Japanese Olympic gold medal
hopeful Naoko Takahashi raced to an easy victory and was the first woman to cross the line
at the Sapporo international half marathon on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Takahashi clocked 1hr 09min 10sec to come in ahead of Barcelona Olympic
10,000m silver medallist Elana Meyer of South Africa (1:09:53) and third-place Mizuki
Noguchi of Japan (1:10:35).
"I'm soon going back to the United States to work hard before going to Sydney for the
Olympics," said Takahashi, who set the Asian record of 2:21:47, the fifth fastest
time in the world, to win the Bangkok Asian Games in December 1998.
Kenyan Laban Kagika won the men's race in 1:02:16, overtaking Japan's Atsushi Fujita in
the last track to beat him by three seconds, while 1998 winner Eric Wainaina of Kenya came
third in 1:02.36.
"When we started, I couldn't run very well, because it was a downhill course, so when
I was coming back on a return course, I tried my best. I know I'm not good at finishing,
but I tried my best till the end," said Kagika.
Tulu edges Kawakami in women's 10,000
Meanwhile, in Brunswick, Maine, USA, Ethiopia's Derartu Tulu, the 1992 Olympic champion in the women's 10,000 meters, outkicked Japan's Yuko Kawakami to win the event in the New Balance Maine Distance Festival.
Tulu finished in 31 minutes, 8 seconds on Saturday, a second ahead of Kawakami, who set a Japanese record.
Adriana Fernandez of Mexico, the 1999 New York Marathon winner, was third in 31:10, also a national best. Melody Fairchild was the fastest U.S. finisher at 33:34, taking eighth place.
Tulu and Fernandez already have qualified to run in the Olympic marathon. By finishing under 32:30 in the 10,000, they will be able to choose between the two events.
