Posted: September 26, 2004

Athletics: Yoko Shibui Runs 2:19:41 at Berlin

Japan Again

Yoko Shibui provided further proof that Japanese women rule the world of distance running when she won the real,-Berlin Marathon on Sunday morning in 2hr 19min 41sec, making her the fourth fastest women in history.

But for being baulked by a race official after passing under the Brandenburg Gate, just 200 metres from the finish, the 25 year old might have beaten the Asian record of 2.19.39, set by Sun Yingjie of China in Beijing last year.

But Shibui did break the Japanese national record of 2.19.46 that Sydney Olympic winner, Naoko Takahashi ran in Berlin 2001, when it was the first time a women had run under 2hr 20min.

Shibui’s victory comes in the wake of her colleague, Mizuki Noguchi’s victory in the Olympic Marathon in Athens five weeks ago.

The weather conditions could not have been more different. While the Olympic race was run on the hottest day of the Greek summer, with midday temperatures at 39C, the Berlin race began in 9C with light rain, rising to 10C during the race.

Shibui was never challenged during the race, and her victory was the fifth in succession for Japanese women in Berlin. Kazumi Matsuo won in 2000, Takahashi in 2001/2, and Yasuko Hashimoto last year. Yet another Japanese, Hiromi Ominami was second yesterday, in 2.23.26. Sonja Oberem of Germany made good her pre-race prediction by finishing third in 2.26.53. European bronze medallist two years ago, Oberem announced her retirement from marathon running.

The men’s race also followed a traditional pattern, Kenyans all the way. Favourite Felix Limo won in 2.06.44, but he was made to work for his victory, only getting away from colleague, Joseph Riri in the last kilometre. “I knew I would win swhen it came down to just the two of us,” said Limo, who had hoped to break his personal best of 2.06.14, from victory in Rotterdam in April.

Runner-up Riri was rewarded with a massive personal best, dropping from 2.16.04 in Stockholm to 2.06.49 yesterday. Joshua Chelanga, a training partner of Paul Tergat, who set the world record of 2.04.55 here last year, was third in 2.07.05.

Results

 
Men
1 Felix LIMO                         KEN                2.06.44                        30,000 Euros
2 Joseph RIRI               KEN                2.06.49                        15,000
3 Joshua CHELANGA            KEN                2.07.05                        12,000
4 Wilson ONSARE                    KEN                2.08.53                          9,000
5 Luis JESUS                         PORT             2.09.08                          6,000
6 Shinichi WATANABE            JAP                 2.09.32                          3,000
7 Luis NOVO                         PORT             2.09.41                          2,400
8 Gashaw MELESE                    ETH                2.09.47                          1,800
9 Isaac MACHARIA              KEN                2.11.26                          1,200
10 Ernest KIPYEGO            KEN                2.11.52                             600

BONUSES: Limo & Riri - 15,000 Euros; Chelanga - 7,500; Onsare & Jesus – 2,500

Women
1 Yoko SHIBUI                      JAP                 2.19.41                        30,000
2 Hiromi OMINAMI                JAP                 2.23.26                        15,000
3 Sonia OBEREM                  GER                2.26.53                        10,000
4 Beatrice OMWANZA            KEN                2.27.19                          5,000
5 Leila AMAN                        ETH                2.27.54                          3,000
6 Tiziana ALAGIA                     ITA                 2.32.20                          2,500
7 Edyta LEWANDOWSKA POL                2.34.18                          2,000
8 Romy SPITZMULLER       GER                2.34.44                          1,800
9 Manuela ZIPSE             GER                2.37.18                          1,200
10 Anna RAHM                       GER                2.37.32                             600

BONUSES: Shibui – 30,000 Euros; Ominami – 7,500; Oberem – 2,500