Passing Yoko Shibui with one kilometre to go, Harumi Hiroyama, ran
to a 2:23:26 victory at the Nagoya International Women’s Marathon.
“It was a hard race from about the half way, but I wasn’t about to
give up,” said Hiroyama, who overcame a 57 second deficit at 30 Km to
win her first marathon at age 37. “After 35 kilometres I was able to
see Shibui ahead of me, but I could not close the gap fast enough.”
Shibui, a former World record holder in the Marathon, took the lead
immediately within the Mizuho stadium, reaching the first kilometre in
3:14.