THE Nagoya Women’s Marathon It is the largest women’s race in the world. It is certified by Guinness World Record and was launched on March 11, 2012, with 13,114 participants. Today it is already international and elite, to the point of being known as the qualifying event that brought many Japanese athletes to international competitions, including two Olympic gold medals, Naoko Takahashi and Mizuki Noguchi. It has World Athletics Platinum status and has now grown with an event that has already attracted more than 20 thousand participants.
Yuka Ando surpassed her personal best, but failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in Japan. (Photo: Nagoya Women’s Marathon)This Sunday a new edition took place in which 3,500 foreigners distinguished themselves, even if the winner of the 42 kilometers was local. Regard Yuka Andowho won his first race in 2:21:19beating his personal best for the first time in seven years.
However, he fell short of the Japanese/Asian record of 2:18:59 Honami Maeda established in January to secure the final place in the national team for the Paris Olympics.
“There are so many people who helped me get here and I am full of gratitude. I can’t go to Paris, but I’m very happy to have won,” said Ando, arousing great enthusiasm among the fans who followed the race on the streets of Nagoya and braving the low temperatures.
After a cold start, with 5 degrees and a wind speed of 1 km/h, three important Japanese athletes, Ando, Ayuko Suzuki and Rika Kasedathey formed the leading group with the 2022 world champion, Gotytom Gebreslasand, from Ethiopia, and 2023 Asian champion, Eunice Chebichii Chumbafrom Bahrain.
This Sunday in Nagoya more than 15 thousand athletes participated, of which 3,500 foreigners. (Photo: Nagoya Women’s Marathon)Around kilometer 36, Gebreslase stopped running and abandoned the race, leaving Chumba in first place and Ando behind, and the two were neck and neck after 39 kilometers.
In the last 800 meters, the Japanese achieved a dramatic victory and won first prize 250 thousand dollarsthe largest in the world, even surpassing the number of men.
The finalists received a pendant as a prize. The Marathon Expo, held in conjunction with the race, also attracted 101,416 visitors over the three days and participated in the festival of women’s running that Nagoya proudly presents to the rest of the world.
The organization congratulated the runners and volunteers who worked during the 72-hour event.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.