Kenyan-born Kirwa wins Nagoya Marathon - Capital Sports
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Features

Kenyan-born Kirwa wins Nagoya Marathon

ahrain's Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa celebrates after victory in the Women's Marathon event during the 17th Asian Games, in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014 ©Martin Bureau (AFP/File)

ahrain’s Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa celebrates after victory in the Women’s Marathon event during the 17th Asian Games, in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014 ©Martin Bureau (AFP/File)

TOKYO, March 13 – Bahrain’s Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa won the Nagoya Women’s Marathon for the second year in succession on Sunday as Japanese runners jostled for Olympic spots behind her.

The Kenyan-born athlete, who holds the Asian Games gold, clocked 2hr 22min 40sec while Japan’s Tomomi Tanaka finished second to boost her hopes of going to Rio this summer.

“The hard work starts now,” Kirwa told reporters. “I know the Olympics will not be easy so I have to keep pushing in training.”

Tanaka struggled to hold back tears after the race.

“There was so much support I felt like I was going to cry,” said Tanaka. “I’m so determined to get to Rio that I didn’t want anyone to beat me.”

Mai Ito has already qualified for Rio after finishing seventh at last year’s world championships in Beijing while Kayoko Fukushi is virtually assured a spot, leaving a third Japanese berth up for grabs.

Former Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi’s dreams of a fairytale end to her career were dashed when the 37-year-old failed to keep up with the early pace and finished 23rd, fighting back tears as she crossed the line.

“After 30 kilometres the support was overwhelming,” said Noguchi, winner of the 2004 Olympics when she famously broke Briton Paula Radcliffe’s heart in an Athens heatwave to take gold.

“I tried to keep smiling because it was like a guard of honour coming home. I’ve no regrets.”

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Marathon running is seen as something of a religion in Japan and reached its zenith when fan favourite Naoko Takahashi stormed to gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, followed by Noguchi’s Athens triumph in 2004.

The same year, Yoko Shibui won the prestigious Berlin Marathon but major success has been fleeting since, highlighted by Reiko Tosa’s 2006 Tokyo win, as Kenyan and Ethiopian runners in particular have come to the fore.

 

Advertisement

More on Capital Sports

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27 – DStv and GOtv subscribers are in for a treat of the world’s best football this week as the 2020-21...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – There is light at the end of the tunnel. After failed promises over the last three years since its...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 6 – Gentrix Shikangwa scored with two minutes left as Vihiga Queens sailed to the final of the CECAFA regional qualifiers...

NFL

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 13 – Kenya’s history making Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to play in America’s National Football League (NFL), is now living...

© 2024 Capital Digital Media. Capital Group Limited. All Rights Reserved