News26 Jan 2003


Noguchi sets 2:21:18 course record and leads home sweep in Osaka

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Noguchi running in the 2002 Nagoya Marathon (© Rikujyo Kyogi Magazine)

Osaka, JapanToday’s highly anticipated Osaka Ladies International marathon did not disappoint. Not only was the course record, 2:22:54 of Romania's Lidia Simon broken, but the race also had an impact on the world all-time best performer's list for the Marathon.

The race was won by Mizuki Noguchi, who finishing her second marathon, moved up to the eighth fastest all-time performer, with her winning time of 2:21:18.

Finishing in second place, Masako Chiba now ties with Uta Pippig (GER) as the 13th fastest performer all-time with her 2:21:45. In third place, the debutante Naoko Sakamoto became the 15th fastest with 2:21:51, and also broke the Japanese debut record, previously held by Yoko Shibui (2:23:11).

Finally, for the first time since 1994, Japanese runners swept the top three spot in this race, with the first six finishers (including two debutantes) setting personal bests.

The day was cloudy with a temperature of 8C and 40% humidity, which was excellent for marathon running. The race started very fast, around 2:20 marathon pace. The first 1Km was passed in 3:20, and the first 5Km in 16:41, by which point a distinct leading pack (of nine) led by official pace setter Olga Romanova had been formed - Romanova, Mizuki Noguchi, Miwako Yamanaka, Megumi Tanaka, Naoko Sakamoto, Aki Fujikawa, Mari Ozaki, Lornah Kiplagat and Masako Chiba.

Uncharacteristically, Chiba was trailing at the rear of the lead pack. Because it was mostly Noguchi and Yamanaka who took turns in leading the pack, Romanova's job as the pacesetter was over before 5Km, after which Fujikawa (at 6Km) was the first of this lead group to lose contact.

Unlike last year, Kenya's Kiplagat, the defending champion was at the back of the leading pack but at 10Km (33:12), she came nearer the front, perhaps to put herself in a better position to collect her drinking bottle, as after the water station she settled back into the middle of the pack again.

The pack of eight stayed together until 14Km, at which point Romanova started to drift back. At the 15Km (49:57) aid/water station, Noguchi missed her special bottle for the second time (she had early missed it at 10Km) and had to settle for regular water.

After 20Km (1:06:40), second time marathon runner Megumi Tanaka, who had been trailing the field since 18Km finally started to lose contact with the leaders. However, more of a shock was Yamanaka, who after being near the front until half way (1:10:21), suddenly fell off the lead pack. She was forced to drop out at 24.7Km. It was later explained by her coach Tsugumichi Suzuki that Yamanaka had sprained her ankle at the sharp "U" turn at the turn around point.

So the lead pack was now down to five - Kiplagat, Noguchi, Ozaki, Chiba and Sakamoto. Both Mari Ozaki and Naoko Sakamoto who have the half marathon best of 1:09:34 and 1:09:27 respectively, were debutantes. At this point Sakamoto looked very good, in fact around 25Km (1:23:40), Sakamoto came up to the front to share the lead with Noguchi.

The turning point of the race came at 30Km (1:40:34), when in succession, Ozaki, Kiplagat and Chiba lost contact with the leaders.
 
"Before the race I was told that the real racing starts at 30Km. So at 30Km, when I was told to go for it from the side walk, I decided to go," said Sakamoto who picked up the pace at that point to an approximately 3:16km to lead the race from Noguchi.

While Ozaki lost contact rapidly, both Kiplagat and Chiba stayed within the striking distance. By 35Km (1:56:55), Chiba and Kiplagat were approximately 100m behind the leaders, Sakamoto and Noguchi.
 
At 37.2Km (unofficial 2:14:15) with 5Km to go, Noguchi surged into the front and pushed the pace. A gap opened but the 22-year-old Sakamoto was able to work her way back to Noguchi's shoulder. "I knew I wouldn’t get rid of Sakamoto with such an effort. However, that was the best I could do at that point," said
Noguchi after the race.

Noguchi’s second surge, at 38:5Km worked and she slowly moved away from Sakamoto, and at 40Km (2:13:51) Noguchi led Sakamoto by 14 seconds, while Chiba was another 22 seconds behind.

"My next goal is to win a medal in Paris," concluded Noguchi, who eventually crossed the line to win in 2:21:18.  If she wins a medal this summer that will guarantee her a place in the Olympic marathon team, provided no Japanese finishes ahead of her.

However, with less than 1Km to go, Chiba passed the faltering Sakamoto and moved into second, finishing with a huge personal best of 2:21:45.

"I kept on pushing with a fast time in mind," said Chiba, "because as five women make the World Championships, I thought if I can record a fast time I have a chance to make the Paris' team."

"I have been talking of running 2:22 since I am 22-years-old, so I am very happy. I would like to thank Mizuki Noguchi for setting a fast pace," said Chiba.

Chiba is likely to be in the Paris team, with the top Japanese from Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya marathons guaranteed the team berth provided they run sub 2:26 time. However, the remaining two spots will also be selected from the fastest finishers from these three marathons.

"I was not thinking about a national debut record until 200m to go.  When I saw the timer, I realized that the debut record was possible," said Naoko Sakamoto who shattered the national marathon debut record with 2:21:51 breaking the debut record set by Yoko Shibui in the same race two year ago. It was also the second fastest debut time in history, behind Paula Radcliffe's 2:18:56 (2002 London), but ahead of Gete Wami (2:22:19).

The defending champion, Lornah Kiplagat finished fourth in a personal best of 2:22:22.

The three best Japanese in this race moved up to become the second, fourth and fifth best fastest performers in the national lists, with Yoshio Koide confirming that, "we are already talking about 2:15 and 2:16 marathons."

Ken Nakamura for the IAAF

Results:
1) Mizuki Noguchi   2:21:18  PR
2) Masako Chiba  2:21:45 PR
3) Naoko Sakamoto  2:21:51  Debut
4) Lornah Kiplagat  (KEN)  2:22:22  PR
5) Mari Ozaki   2:23:30   Debut
6) Luminita Talpos   2:27:32 PR
7) Megumi Tanaka  2:29:57
8) Aki Fujikawa  2:30:13
9) Viktoria Klimina  (RUS)  2:31:56
10) Mai Tagami  2:34:36
...
13)  Liu Min  (CHN)  2:39:18

Splits:
5Km 16:41  Olga Romanova
10Km 33:12 (16:29) Mizuki Noguchi
15Km 49:57 (16:45) Mizuki Noguchi
20Km 1:06:40 (16:43) Mizuki Noguchi
Half  1:10:21  Lornah Kiplagat
25Km 1:23:41 (17:01)    Mizuki Noguchi
30Km 1:40:34 (16:53)  Mizuki Noguchi
35Km 1:56:55 (16:21) Naoko Sakamoto
40Km  2:13:51 (16:56) Mizuki Noguchi
Finish 2:21:18 (7:27) Mizuki Noguchi

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