Noguchi to defend Berlin Marathon title

Mizuki Noguchi, the reigning Olympic champion in the Marathon, will return to defend her real,- Berlin Marathon title on 24 September, organisers announced today.

"We are happy that we were able to sign the Olympic Champion and last year’s winner for a second time," said Race Director Mark Miled. "We can expect another high performance and we’ll hopefully have another winning time of sub-2:20."

Last fall, the 27-year-old Japanese won the race in 2:19:12 to set a new Asian and course record. She has since remained the third fastest woman to ever run the distance. A year earlier, Noguchi won the Olympic crown in the heat of Athens, beating not only world record holder and British favourite Paula Radcliffe but also Kenyan Catherine Ndereba. These are the only two women who have run a marathon faster than Noguchi. In September, Noguchi will try to improve on her Asian record.

"It looks like the Japanese winning streak in the women’s race, which began in 2000, will continue," Milde said. "But we will try to sign high class competitors for Noguchi." The Berlin race, this year celebrating its 33rd edition, is the only marathon Noguchi has contested since her victory in Athens. In the spring of 2005 and 2006 she did not compete in a marathon.

Noguchi will start her World Marathon Majors campaign in Berlin, a series in which marathoners collect points over a two-year cycle. In addition to Berlin, BAA Boston Marathon, the Flora London Marathon, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and the ING New York City Marathon compose the five-race series, while the marathons at the Olympic Games and World Championships will count as well.

According to organisers, more than 30,000 runners have registered for the September race. The race's limit this year is 40,000.

real,- Berlin Marathon for the IAAF