Andy Edwards (typing furiously), with Translator, then, Mr. Yamamoto, Isshiki, Murasawa and Sarah Hall, photo by Larry Eder/RunBlogRun
This press conference is in German, Japanese and of course, English. Hiroyuki Yamamoto has PB of 2:09.12, and would like to run 2:08.30 in Frankfurt. Tadashi Isshiki has a 2:09.43 PB, and wants to run 2:09 in Frankfurt. Akinobou Murasawa, with a PB of 2:09.47, would like to run 2:10-2:11 in Frankfurt.
Sara Hall, who scored a nice PB here last year of 2:27:21, won Sacramento in December 2018, after PBs in Tokyo (February 2017, 2:28.26, 6th), then, Frankfurt (2:27.21 PB, 5th), then, Sacramento (First, 2:28.10), and finally, Ottowa last spring, 3rd, 2:26.20 PB). Hall will be in the thick of it in Atlanta in March 2020, for the US Olympic Trials. She told us that she would like to run at least one a couple races before the trials, and did not rule out the Califonia International Marathon in Folsom, CA in December. Sara Hall wants a PB here.
How will the Japanese men fare in Frankfurt? Their manager, Mr. Wateru Noguchi, suggests that the Japanese team is not familiar with typical runner’s hyperbole. He suggests Yamamoto will be around 2:09, Isshiki around 2:10 and Mr. Murasawa about 2:10-2:11. “No surprise 2:05” noted Mr. Noguchi.
Sara Hall wants a PB here. She is fit, confident and training and racing has gone well.
Here is the presser with the Japanese team, as recorded on my Iphone.