News Archive

Naoko Takahashi - currently starring in a manga comic strip in Japan - added

the world record to her Olympic marathon title, when she won in Berlin Sunday

morning, in a time of two hours, 19 minutes, 46 seconds. Takahashi takes thus

57 seconds from the mark set by Tegla Loroupe of Kenya on the same course two

years ago. More pertinently, it is the first time that a woman has run sub-2hr

20min. Loroupe was never in the race for victory and, although second finished

in 2.28.02. In her first ever mixed race - she only ran in womens championships

in the past - Takahashi thanked her guards, local men who protected her in the

first half of the race, and said, "the weather was perfect (15 degrees

centigrade), and the course was excellent. Until now Ive been happy just to

compete against rivals, this was the first time against the clock. I can

compare this to the Olympics, Ive always had two aims, to win the Olympic

title, and set a worlds best, they are both the same for me". Takahashi,

who bought her own chef, masseur and entourage of a dozen to Berlin struck out

alone from the start. She was always on world record pace, as her rivals fell

further and further behind. Even a rain shower at halfway did not deter her.

With close to a hundred Japanese media following her to the German capital,

including the journalist who writes Kazekko (Daughter of the Wind), next weeks

comic book sale risk running into millions. In the mens race, a Kenyan

pacemaker - this time, Joseph Ngolepus - won for the second year in succession,

in 2.08.47. Ngolepus, who trains with Loroupe in Detmold in the Rhineland,

said, "At 21 kilometres, the other slowed down, so I decided to force the

pace. At 25k, I realised I could win".