Osaka 10,000m - (L-R) Kayoko Fukushi of Japan, Evelyne Wambui Nganga of Kenya, Philes Ongori of Kenya, (© Getty Images)
Ongori Philes of Kenya led from the start to finish and won today’s 62nd Marugame Half Marathon in 1:07:57, the fastest time of the year for a woman, and a personal best by nearly two minutes. Her compatriot Harun Njoroge was first in the men’s event in 1:01:35. The event is a IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
Philes started fast, covering the first 5Km in 15:33, only seven seconds slower than the race record pace from two years ago when recorded when Kayoko Fukushi set an Asian record of 1:07:26. It was not an overly ambitious pace for Philes, who recorded the 5000m best of 14:50.15 last October, and she was 43 seconds ahead of the chasing consisting of Yoshimi Ozaki, Mari Ozaki and Harumi Hiroyama.
Philes continued to push the pace, covering the next 5Km in 15:51, and although she fell further behind the Fukushi’s record pace (31:24 for Philes compared to 30:52 for Fukushi), the gap to Ozaki and Hiroyama grew to a minute and 19 seconds.
Even when Philes slowed somewhat covering the next 5Km (16:14), the gap to her pursuers continued to widen and to a minute and 35 seconds. Meanwhile her opponents started to split up with Hiroyama left behind leaving just Yosimi Ozaki and Mari Ozaki (no relation) to fight it out for the runner’s-up spot.
Unopposed Philes won in 1:07:57, the third fastest time on the course, behind Fukushi’s 1:07:26 and Mizuki Noguchi’s 1:07:43, both recorded two years ago. It was a personal best by nearly two minutes for Philes, having recorded 1:09:50 last March in the All JPN Corporate team Half Marathon.
It was Yoshimi Ozaki finished second in 1:09:30, four seconds short of the personal best time which she recorded at the 2007 World Road Running Championships where she finished 14th. Mari Ozaki, known more as a marathon runner finished third in 1:09:58, 25 seconds short of her personal best she set in this race six years ago.
39-year-old Harumi Hiroyama took fourth place finish with 1:10:09, 14 seconds faster than last year, an auspicious sign for she is planning to run the Nagoya Women’s Marathon in five weeks time.
MEN – Kenyan sweep
Harun Njoroge, Joseph Mwaniki and Martin Waweru, three Kenyans, who run for Japanese corporate track teams, dominated the men’s race. They, along with John Kanyi and Laban Kagika, also running for Japanese corporate teams, covered the first 5Km in 14:41 and 10Km in 29:16.
Five Japanese were successful in staying with three Kenyan leaders through 15Km (43:58), but in the next 5Km they all lost contact.
The race came down to head to head between Njoroge and Mwaniki after 20Km, and at the end Njoroge came out victorious with 1:01:35, while Mwaniki was four seconds behind in second place. They were followed home by Waweru.
Ryoji Matsushita was the first Japanese in fourth place with 1:02:14, followed by Tomoo Tsutoba in fifth, three seconds behind.
Njoroge, not yet 20-years-old, is a new Kenyan on the Komori Corporation team. He has run 28:14.36 for the 10,000m. Mwaniki, who runs for Konica-Minolta, is also 19 years old. He won the Hakodate Half Marathon in 1:01:52 last year. Waweru, who will turn 20 in three days, graduated from Aomori Yamada high school in Japan and now runs for Fujitsu. He ran 28:27.53 for the 10000m.
On the other note, Oume 30Km road race, which was also scheduled on Sunday (3) in the suburb of Tokyo, was cancelled due to heavy snow.
Ken Nakamura for the IAAF
Assisted by Akihiro Onishi
Results:
Men
1) Harun Njoroge (KEN) 1:01:35 (14;41, 29:17, 43:58, 58:30)
2) Joseph Mwanki (KEN) 1:01:39 (14:41, 29:17, 43:58, 58:30)
3) Martin Waweru (KEN) 1:02;02
4) Ryoji Matsushita 1:02:14
5) Tomoo Tsubota 1;02:17
6) Tomoaki Bungo 1:02:30
Women
1) Ongori Philes (KEN) 1:07:57 (15:33, 31:24, 47:38, 1:04:19)
2) Yoshimi Ozaki 1:09:30 (16:16, 32:43, 49:13, 1:05:57)
3) Mari Ozaki 1:09:58
4) Harumi Hiroyama 1:10:09
5) Yumi Hirata 1:12:21
6) Takami Nishiyama 1:12:27
