Kawauchi wins in 2:10:53
HOFU (JPN, Dec 17): Two weeks after clocking 2:10:53 in the Fukuoka Marathon, Yuki Kawauchi claimed his third victory in the Hofu Marathon in a course record of 2:10:03 ahead of Tatsunori Hamasaki (2:11:26) and Asuka Tanaka (2:12:17). According to Japan Running News, this was Kawauchi’s 20th sub-2:11 clocking, putting him one away from tying Tsegaye Kebede at 21 and his 75th sub-2:20 clocking, tying the record held by America’s Doug Kurtis. Kawauchi’s next marathon will be the Marshfield New Year’s Day Marathon in Massachusetts. Misaki Kato won the women’s race in 2:28:12 by more than ten minutes.