Noguchi goes ‘training’ in the Marugame Half Marathon

Laban Kagika & Takako Kotorida, who are preparing for upcoming marathons this spring, won the 59th Marugame Half Marathon, Japan on 6 February.

However, the real news came amongst the fun runners as reigning Olympic Marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi also ran in Marugame but she ran in the mass race instead of the elite division.  Constantly waving to the fans who lined up along the course, Noguchi finished in 1:13:07.  “I ran here as a part of the training,” said Noguchi, who also joked, “Waving hands throughout the race was a good upper body workout.”   When asked about her future plan, Noguchi said, “In the track season, I would like to run track races seriously.” 

In the elite men’s race, the huge lead pack passed 5Km in 14:57 and 10Km in 29:38 before four runners - Laban Kagika, Ombeche Mokamba, Cyrus Njui and Kazuo Ietani - broke away at 11Km. They went through 15Km in 43:58, but Ietani lost contact with the leader at 16Km followed by Njui 2Km later, and thus the race developed into a duel between Kagika and Mokamba.  They ran together until 600m to go in the race.  As they entered the stadium, Kagika surged away from Mokamba and won by three seconds in 1:01:36.  “It was good training for the upcoming Lake Biwa marathon,” said Kagika after the race. 

The women’s elite race broke open early as the lead pack of six runners at 5Km (16:22) was reduced to three runners – Takako Kotorida, Yasuko Hashimoto and Miho Notagashira – by 8Km.  Out of the three, Notagashira was the first to lose contact but Hashimoto was also left behind by 14Km, leaving Kotorida in front.  At 15Km (49:08) Kotorida was 11 seconds ahead of Hashimoto, who in turn was 10 seconds ahead of Notagashira.  Kotorida maintained her lead over Hashimoto to the finish line and won by 9 seconds with 1:09:34.   “I wanted to build confidence in this race,” said Kotorida, who is preparing for the Nagoya Women’s Marathon. 

Ken Nakamura for the IAAF

Results:
 
Men 
1)  Laban Kagika (KEN) 1:01:36    (14:58, 29:38, 43:58, 58:29)
2)  Ombeche Mokamba (KEN)  1:01:39 (15:00, 29:38, 43:58, 58:29)
3)  Cyrus Njui (KEN)  1:01:49
4)  Kazuo Ietani  1:02:08
5)  Kentaro Hayashi  1:02:32
6)  Yoichiro Akiyama  1:02:35
7)  Masato Imai  1:02:37
8)  Ken Konishi  1:02:37

Women
1)  Takako Kotorida  1;09:34  (16:22, 32:49, 49:08, 1:05:58)
2)  Yasuko Hashimoto  1:09:43  (16:23, 32:49, 49:19, 1:06:08)
3)  Miho Notagashira  1:10:25
4)  Kaori Yoshida  1:10:54
5)  Chieko Yamasaki 1:11:30
6)  Takami Nishiyama  1:11:40
7)  Junko Ogawa  1:11:57
8)  Fumi Murata  1:12:12
...
unofficial  Mizuki Noguchi  1:13:07