3 hours until Osaka start. Heading to stadium soon with Constantina, Kayoko, Kiyoko, Naoko and all. A bit cold, but good day for running: 6C temps, no wind, no humidity, clear skies. Last-minute article on Kayoko Fukushi.
Author Archives: bw_admin
All eyes on Fukushi as Japanese Olympic squad selection continues in Osaka
Kayoko Fukushi following her 3rd place finish at the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
The IAAF website preview of Sunday’s Osaka Women’s Marathon, with a focus on our athlete Kayoko Fukushi (Wacoal/adidas).
Tagged Kayoko Fukushi, Osaka Women's Marathon
Lee Merrien Will Run Virgin London Marathon
In the midst of his altitude training camp with UK Athletics in Iten, Kenya, Lee Merrien (ASICS) has confirmed he will return to the Virgin London Marathon this Spring. The BBC reports on Lee’s plans. Last year in London, Lee earned the Jim Peters Trophy as the top British finisher, with a PB 2:14:27 effort. The London course and sure to be rocking this April as the British men, including also John Beattie (adidas), compete for the remaining two spots on the Olympic marathon squad.
Post-Olympic Marathon Trial Recap with Patrick Rizzo
Arrived in Osaka last night and have settled in to the New Otani hotel next to Osaka Castle for Sunday’s women’s marathon. Catching up on some recent news articles on our athletes. Here is the first, a RunnersFeed interview with Patrick Rizzo (Mizuno) shortly after he became the proud owner of a shiny new marathon PB in Houston. Click here.
Tagged Patrick Rizzo
Constantina Dita Comments on Mizuki Noguchi’s Prep for Osaka
Constantina Dita (ASICS) has done quite a few interviews since arriving in Osaka ten days ago. She had expected Mizuki Noguchi, who also was training in Boulder for the past ten weeks prepping for Osaka, to be back on form for Sunday’s Osaka International Women’s Marathon. That is, until Mizuki suddenly withdraw from the race this week with an inflamed . Brett Larimer of Japan Running News provides a translation of one of the articles that appeared in the January 24th from Sankei Sports newspaper. Click here for Brett’s translation, and click here for the original Japanese-language post, which includes a photo of Constantina opening the Osaka athlete’s village on Monday.
Lee Merrien, Louise Damen take Hampshire County Cross Titles
A couple of days late on this report, but at the January 7th Hampshire County Cross-Country Championships, Lee Merrien (ASICS) and Louise Damen (adidas) took the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, with John Beattie (adidas) runner-up to Lee by just a handful of seconds. John reports: “Louise won comfortably, and on the men’s side Lee just outsprinted me in the last few hundred yards to win by 4 seconds. Was quite an undulating course and I tried constantly for 12k to drop him at every available chance, though he just wouldn’t go away and held on to find more of a sprint than me in the end! Both of us ran well and were 90 secs clear of 3rd which was encouraging. Nice to have my confidence restored somewhat and start 2012 much better than most of what went on in 2011.”
Click here for a short video report on the day’s racing, courtesy of channelonline.tv
Tagged adidas, ASICS, John Beattie, Lee Merrien, Louise Damen
Constantina Dita arrives in Osaka
Constantina (left) with 2004 Olympic champ Mizuki Noguchi (center) and 2000 Olympic champ Naoko Takahashi (right) on a chilly morning at the Boulder Reservoir last week (Photo by Boulder Wave, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Reigning Olympic marathon champ Constantina Dita (ASICS) arrived in Osaka today for her final fine-tuning before the January 29th Osaka International Women’s Marathon. Accompanied by her sister/coach, Elisaveta, Constantina wanted to do her final training at sea level, after preparing in her US hometown of Erie, Colorado, throughout the past three winter months. “The preparation has been good, and I feel it is better than anything I have done the past two years. In Osaka, the main priority is to make my qualification for the Romanian team for this summer’s London Olympic Games. I have heard the lead group in Osaka will go about 71 minutes for the first half; to be honest, this is a bit too fast for me. I hope to run 2:28-2:30 and make the top eight in Osaka. Before the Beijing Olympics also I made my final training in Osaka, so I am comfortable there. I am planning the same pattern this year as I did in 2008: Osaka in January, the Virgin London Marathon in April, and then the Olympic Games.”
Edna Takes 3rd at Kenyan Police Cross Championships
On Saturday, IAAF Marathon world championships gold medalist Edna Kiplagat (Nike) returned to the turf for the first time since last February’s Kenyan Cross-Country Championships, and posted a solid 3rd place result at the Kenya Police Inter-Divisional Cross Country Chmpionships, running 28:59 over the 8 km course in Nairobi. Click here for the IAAF’s report on Saturday’s racing.
Kiplagat seeks to make history at the Olympics
Kenya’s Capital FM Sports chats with reigning world champion Edna Kiplagat (Nike) on what it will take to become Kenya’s first-ever women’s Olympic marathon champion. Click here.
Tagged Edna Kiplagat, Nike
5 Minutes with Meghan Armstrong Peyton
Running Times on-line interview (click here) with Meghan Peyton (Team USA Minnesota).
