Suguru Osako, photo by Sean Hartnettr/The Bank of America Chicago Marathon
CHICAGO (USA): The new Japanese record 2:05:50 by Suguru Osako is also new Asian record. Former record holder Yuta Shitara (2:06:11 this year in February in Tokyo) will face Osako in a Vaporfly-powered head-to-head at next March’s Tokyo Marathon. He’ll have extra motivation: athletes are eligible to win the 100 million yen Project Exceed bonus once per fiscal year. Osako won’t win another jackpot if he breaks his own record in Tokyo, but with Shitara having done it in the last fiscal year it’s his for the taking if he can better Osako’s mark this time. Informs Brett Larner.