Japan's Reiko Tosa crosses the finish line to win Tokyo International Women's Marathon at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Sunday, 19 Nov. Former Olympic champion Naoko Takahashi failed to defend her Tokyo International Women's marathon title on Sunday when finishing third. Takahashi 12 months ago in her first race since winning the 2000 Games title in Sydney, was never in contention as Reiko Tosa scored a runaway victory in two hours 26minutes 51seconds. In a Japanese clean sweep of the podium places, Akemi Ozaki finished runner-up in 2hrs 28min 51sec with Takahashi clocking a time of 2hr 31min 22sec.
Tosa's outstanding success victory was always on the cards having come into the race after finishing third in the Boston marathon last April. Reiko Tosa outlasted her Japanese compatriots Akemi Ozaki and defending champion Naoko Takahashi to win the Tokyo International Women's Marathon in two hours, twenty-six minutes and 15 seconds. Ozaki finished second in a personal best time of 2:28.51 with the 34-year-old Takahashi third in 2:31:22. "I'm really happy," Tosa said. "The pacemaker set a perfect pace for me, although the conditions were a bit tough in the second half of the race."
The race was billed as a showdown between Sydney Olympic gold medalist Takahashi and Tosa, who finished fifth in the Athens Olympics in 2004. Athens Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi did not run in the race. With pacesetter Alevtina Iwanowa of Russia setting a good tempo in the first half of the race, the leading group was reduced to seven early on.
However, last year's runner-up Zivile Balciunaite of Lithuania and Olivera Jevtic of Serbia quickly fell behind in the cold, wet conditions and they were soon joined by American Jen Rhines. Ethiopia's Asha Gigi kept pace with the main pack until just before the halfway stage, but then fell away and was overtaken by Ozaki. Iwanowa dropped out just before the 27-km mark, leaving the two Japanese favorites to battle to the line.
The expected showdown failed to materialise, however, as the 30-year-old Tosa raced clear soon after the 31-km mark to leave the former world record holder Takahashi in her wake. At the 35-km mark, the struggling Takahashi was 42 seconds behind and fading badly and she was eventually caught by Ozaki four kilometres later.
Tokyo International Women's Marathon's results :
1. - Reiko Tosa - 2:26:15
2. - Akemi Ozaki - 2:28:51
3. - Naoko Takahashi - 2:31:22
4. - Olivera Jevtic (SRB) - 2:33:11
5. - Zivile Balciunaite (LIT) - 2:33:18
6. - Mary Ptikany (KEN) - 2:34:31
7. - Jen Rhines (USA) - 2:35:37
Wowwwww... their 42km timing is my 22km timing!!! I'm so far behind..... ngeh ngeh ngeh... nevermind, I'm now reading an article by Trish Monks on how to "WIN THE MENTAL BATTLE TO FINISH STRONG AT YOUR NEXT RACE."
By the way, found this somewhere... hehehehehhehehe...
:)
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