by Larry Eder
Samuel Ndungu, 2012 Lake Biwa Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
Henry Szost sets Polish NR, 2012 Lake Biwa Marathon,
photo by PhotoRun.net
Henry Szost sets Polish NR, 2012 Lake Biwa Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
The 67th Lake Biwa Marathon had amazingly deep performances, with nine of top ten setting PRs. Our favorite photographer, Victah Sailer, gave us this account of the race!
Most
of Japan was glued to their TV sets this afternoon, as the last mens’
olympic marathon selection race was run in Otsu for the 67th running of
the Lake Biwa Marathon. Thirty minutes prior to the start the skies let
go with a light drizzle which continued until some 30km into the race.
Then it started to rain, for most of the race the temperture remained
around 45F/7.5C with light winds,
of Japan was glued to their TV sets this afternoon, as the last mens’
olympic marathon selection race was run in Otsu for the 67th running of
the Lake Biwa Marathon. Thirty minutes prior to the start the skies let
go with a light drizzle which continued until some 30km into the race.
Then it started to rain, for most of the race the temperture remained
around 45F/7.5C with light winds,
With
4 pace setters, it was business as usual for Isaac Macharia of Kenya,
the main pacemaker along with fellow Kenyan, Boniface Kirui rattling
off kilometer splits of 3.00, minutes more or less. A group of 50
passed 10km in 30:12, which whittled down to 25 at 25km(1.15.23),
passing the half at 1:03.38.
4 pace setters, it was business as usual for Isaac Macharia of Kenya,
the main pacemaker along with fellow Kenyan, Boniface Kirui rattling
off kilometer splits of 3.00, minutes more or less. A group of 50
passed 10km in 30:12, which whittled down to 25 at 25km(1.15.23),
passing the half at 1:03.38.
After
Macharia and Kirui departed having done their job, they let the group
decide who was going to be champion and which Japanese might make their
case to run in the 2012 Olympic Marathon in London. Immediately,
Nicholas Manza, Kenya, a rabbit who won Amsterdam last year in a
sterling 2:06.34 took to the front, which didn’t last long, as
co-favourite, Bekana Daba of Ethiopia took command. Both front runners
were looking to share the lead, but in both cases, no one would help
until 31km, when last years’s rabbit, and Japanese based Kenyan, Samuel
Ndungu took the lead and never surrendered it, running a 2:07.04 debut.
Macharia and Kirui departed having done their job, they let the group
decide who was going to be champion and which Japanese might make their
case to run in the 2012 Olympic Marathon in London. Immediately,
Nicholas Manza, Kenya, a rabbit who won Amsterdam last year in a
sterling 2:06.34 took to the front, which didn’t last long, as
co-favourite, Bekana Daba of Ethiopia took command. Both front runners
were looking to share the lead, but in both cases, no one would help
until 31km, when last years’s rabbit, and Japanese based Kenyan, Samuel
Ndungu took the lead and never surrendered it, running a 2:07.04 debut.
Behind
him, the stories were many, as Daba dropped out from the cold
conditions at 33km and Manza was going to drop out but helped the
Japanese until 39km, where his dreams of winning ended, NHK viewers
were watching the number one Japanese seeded runner, Hiroyuki Horibata
battling the young 21yr old, university student and crowd favourite,
Takehiro Deki, trying to remain with the leaders and take that precious
spot for London. At 30km, they were basically even with Horibata hanging
on for dear life in 1:30.14 slightly leading Deki. But 15 seconds
behind, TV showed us Kentro Nakamoto leading a group of 5 Japanese
runners, now running the same pace as Horibata and Deki. Led by
Nakamoto, Ryo Yamamoto, Takashi Horiguchi, Tomoyuki Morita and Masashi
Hayashi were gaining on each kilometer. The chase group was closing in
on Horibata and Deki dreams of being the first Japanese man this year.
him, the stories were many, as Daba dropped out from the cold
conditions at 33km and Manza was going to drop out but helped the
Japanese until 39km, where his dreams of winning ended, NHK viewers
were watching the number one Japanese seeded runner, Hiroyuki Horibata
battling the young 21yr old, university student and crowd favourite,
Takehiro Deki, trying to remain with the leaders and take that precious
spot for London. At 30km, they were basically even with Horibata hanging
on for dear life in 1:30.14 slightly leading Deki. But 15 seconds
behind, TV showed us Kentro Nakamoto leading a group of 5 Japanese
runners, now running the same pace as Horibata and Deki. Led by
Nakamoto, Ryo Yamamoto, Takashi Horiguchi, Tomoyuki Morita and Masashi
Hayashi were gaining on each kilometer. The chase group was closing in
on Horibata and Deki dreams of being the first Japanese man this year.
As
Nakamoto separated from the group of 5, he caught Horibata just before
39km and seemed London bound, but hold on, Yamamoto who was part of the
Japanese chase group was only 9 seconds behind Nakamoto at 40km.
Yamamoto pushed hard and caught Nakamoto inside the stadium with 400m
left, he had much in reserve and finished in a huge PR, 2:08.44, as the
chase group leader, disappointed Nakamoto lost another 11 seconds in the
last 400m but still to PR in 2:08.53
Nakamoto separated from the group of 5, he caught Horibata just before
39km and seemed London bound, but hold on, Yamamoto who was part of the
Japanese chase group was only 9 seconds behind Nakamoto at 40km.
Yamamoto pushed hard and caught Nakamoto inside the stadium with 400m
left, he had much in reserve and finished in a huge PR, 2:08.44, as the
chase group leader, disappointed Nakamoto lost another 11 seconds in the
last 400m but still to PR in 2:08.53
-Lee
Troop of Australia attempt at making his 4th Olympic Team was derailed
when the rain tightened up his achilles tendon at around 15km and he
hoppled to 20km before departing the course
Troop of Australia attempt at making his 4th Olympic Team was derailed
when the rain tightened up his achilles tendon at around 15km and he
hoppled to 20km before departing the course
-Dylan Wykes of Canada, had a serious stomach problem and departed the course early also
-only
Abdellah Taghrafet of Morocco, 2:08.37, who missed his PR by 16 seconds
DID NOT set a personal marathon record in the top 10 finishers, truly
amazing under trying conditions, that also includes the 3 who debuted at
the distance
Abdellah Taghrafet of Morocco, 2:08.37, who missed his PR by 16 seconds
DID NOT set a personal marathon record in the top 10 finishers, truly
amazing under trying conditions, that also includes the 3 who debuted at
the distance
-Henryk
Szost broke the Polish Marathon Record of Grzegorz Gajdus with a
2:07.39, he did most of training with other Polish runners at former
Polish Marathoner, Antoni Niemczak’s, The Inn at Paradise, in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Szost broke the Polish Marathon Record of Grzegorz Gajdus with a
2:07.39, he did most of training with other Polish runners at former
Polish Marathoner, Antoni Niemczak’s, The Inn at Paradise, in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
-Japan will annouce their Marathon Olympic Team after the final race for the women in Nagoya next weekend
1. Samuel Ndungu Kenya 2:07:04 debut
2. Henryk Szost Poland 2:07:39 NR
3. Abdellah Taghrafet Morocco 2:08:37
4. Ryo Yamamoto Japan 2:08:44 PB
5. Kentaro Nakamoto Japan 2:08:53 PB
6. Tomoyuki Morita Japan 2:09:12 debut
7. Takashi Horiguchi Japan 2:09:16 PB
8. Masashi Hayashi Japan 2:09:55 PB
9. Takehiro Deki Japan 2:10:02 debut
10. Ernest Kebenei Kenya 2:10:04 PB
11. Hiroyuki Horibata Japan 2:10:05
12. Ruggero Pertile Italy 2:10:06
13. Suehiro Ishikawa Japan 2:11:13 debut
14. Tomoyuki Sato Japan 2:12:19
15. Naoki Okamoto Japan 2:12.31PB
