Mathathi, Kuroda Win Gifu Half Marathon, Kawauchi 13th

translated and edited by Brett Larner

complete results coming soon

At the May 15 Naoko Takahashi Cup Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, 2007 World Championships 10000 m bronze medalist Martin Mathathi (Kenya/Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) won in 1:00:47. 2011 World Championships marathon team leader and amateur runner Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref.) ran 1:04:44 for 13th. Kawauchi ran among the leaders through 10 km but fell off pace after colliding with another athlete. "I had trouble moving my legs properly after that," he said. "Looking at my performance I'd have to say that I'm disappointed with a result like this, but it was good to get the feeling of racing again. I'd like to polish things up for the Sapporo International Half in July." Kawauchi then headed out to run hill repeats in the surrounding mountains.

Mao Kuroda (Team Yutaka Giken) won the women's half marathon in 1:13:45. Multiple Olympic and World Championships medalist Catherine Ndereba (Kenya) was 51 seconds back in 3rd.

In its first edition, this year's Gifu Half Marathon was dedicated as a charity fundraiser race for relief efforts in the disaster-hit northeast. Including the 3 km family run event, a total of 9000 people ran the race. A portion of each runner's entry fee went to disaster relief. The race also held a charity auction including goods signed by Sydney Olympics women's marathon gold medalist and former world record holder Naoko Takahashi. Giving advice to Kawauchi, who has been in the national spotlight since his remarkable run at February's Tokyo Marathon, Takahashi said, "Don't always think that you can do more than you can, and keep sight of who and what you are."

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