Mizuki Noguchi claims the course record in Tokyo (© Kazutaka Eguchi/Agence Shot)
Surging away from Julia Mombi with one kilometre to go, defending Olympic Marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi won the 18th Sendai Half Marathon on Sunday clocking 1:08:25.
Mombi, who is coached by legendary coach Yoshio Koide and runs for Aruze in Japan, was second, six seconds behind in 1:08:31. It was a personal best for Mombi, having improved by more than a minute on her previous best of 1:09:34 she recorded in the Miyazaki women’s Half Marathon last January. The third place finisher, Yuko Machida, finished more than three minutes behind in 1:11:44.
Noguchi and Mombi broke away from the rest of the field early on. With the defending champion Noguchi in front pushing the pace, they passed 5 Km in 15:58, 10 Km in 32:04, 15 Km 48:23 and 2 20 Km in 1:04:57. Then with one kilometer to go, Noguchi increased the pace and broke away from Mombi, finishing twenty-nine seconds faster than in her winning performance from last year. It was also the second fastest time in the history of the race; the course record was established nine years ago by Esther Wanjiru, fourth in the 2000 Olympic Marathon, when she won the ninth edition of the race in 1999 with 1:07:59.
“It was a confidence builder for me,”said Noguchi. This was her last race before the Beijing Olympic Marathon. “I now need to be in best shape as possible, both physically and mentally for Beijing.”
The men’s race also came down to the final kilometre. Kenyan Harun Njoroge, who runs for Komori Corporation, ran away from Yusei Nakao and Kazuo Ietani in the waning stages to win in 1:01:55. Nakao finished second five seconds behind, while Ietani was another five seconds behind in 1:02:05.
Njoroge’s winning time was also the second fastest time in the history of the race. However, it was far behind the course record of 59:43, established by Samuel Wanjiru in 2005. The national Marathon record holder Toshinari Takaoka was ninth in 1:02:32.
Ken Nakamura for the IAAF
Leading results:
Men -
1) Harun Njoroge (KEN) 1:01:55 (14:50, 29:38, 44:19, 58:53)
2) Yusei Nakao 1:02:00 (14:51, 29:39, 44:19, 58:54)
3) Kazuo Ietani 1:02.05 (14:51, 29:39, 44:19, 58:54)
4) Osamu Ibata 1:02:08
5) Joseph Muwaniki (KEN) 1:02:23
6) Kiyokatsu Hasegawa 1:02:26
7) Takahiro Kitagawa 1:02:28
8) Yuki Abe 1:02:28
9) Toshinari Takaoka 1:02:32
10) Masaki Shimojyu 1:02:39
Women -
1) Mizuki Noguchi 1:08:25 (15:58, 32:04, 48:23, 1:04:57)
2) Julia Mombi (KEN) 1:08:31 (15:58, 32:04, 48:23, 1:04:57)
3) Yuko Machida 1:11:44
4) Mikiko Hara 1:12:38
5) Yuko Shoi 1:13:26
