Tomoki Ota (59:26) SMASHES Japanese National Record at Marugame Half Marathon; Mutiso leads 4 sub-60

Thanks. I just put it #1 thread on the front page. Good night. Early bed time for me tonight.

Thanks, looks like 59:27 has been confirmed for Ota's new NR. Should become the 12th fastest NR now between Italy's and Morocco's, 26 countries under the hour in history now

Japan and US were the two most flimsy HM records I could think of and just like that…Mutiso appears to be back too after a tough Paris

2:06 Aussie Andy Buchanan running 60:28 for 7th, looking strong before London. Aus Womens NR from Izzy Batt Doyle 67:17, huge run

This has been such a long time coming.

More Results https://www.watchathletics.com/page/6295/results-kagawa-marugame-international-half-marathon-2025

It's nice to finally see the Japanese finally break the hour barrier.

What are we thinking these two can run for the marathon once they move up - maybe challenge Kengo Suzuki's NR or nah?

Love how a lot of European/Japanese courses finish on tracks. Easy way to make for faster finishes.

Its hard to say but both have been excellent 10k/HM runners and are quite young - 27 and 22. Shinohara is graduating Komazawa University and signed for ON and corporate team Fujitsu. I wouldn't be surprised if by the time they move to the marathon Suzuki's record is already broken. Got to think if conditions are good Yohei Ikeda (2:05:12 PB + stage win at New Year Ekiden) has a shot in Tokyo.

Also today at the Beppu-Oita marathon collegiate 4th year Hiroki Wakabayashi debuted in 2:06:07 for 2nd behind Vincent Kipchumba (2:06:01, welcome back) but it was apparently his last serious race which is kind of crazy because he's an amazing athlete who also broke the stage record in the Hakone Ekiden 5th (uphill) stage this year. Goes to show the depth in the Japanese marathon scene is incredible so the NR breaker in the marathon might not be the most obvious guy now.

That's true, I think it would be good to see both guys maximizing their 10k potential before committing to moving up in distance regardless.

You're absolutely right on the depth though. And it is a shame that a guy can run 2:06 and walk away from the sport just like that...

When the results come out, we'll probably see 1,000 guys under 1:04

Incredible depth - 169 under 64, full results below

First a few other notable guys not yet mentioned finishing further back:

5th place - 1:00:06 - Shinsaku Kudo - Waseda Uni. 2nd yr. - 2nd in Hakone Ekiden 5th stage behind Wakabayashi but a big surprise for me at least to run so quick, 62 min guy before

14 - 1:00:40 - Bedan Karoki - good to see him still putting in solid performances, sub 61 every year except '20,'21 since 2014. He has a younger brother in Japan now - Eliud Kahiga

19 - 1:00:54 - Hiromichi Nonoka - first teenager in the race, turns 20 later this month

44 - 1:01:28 - Suguru Osako - never really committed to the lead group, seems happy with the effort, wore XTEP shoes, back to Boulder now, Tokyo Marathon next

45 - 1:01:26 - Eric Kiplangat - WA result is incorrect this is not Erick Kiplagat Sang

50 - 1:01:35 - Yusuke Ogura - former NR holder, preparing for Tokyo Marathon

79 - 1:01:58 - Brett Robinson - still time to get ready for London, hopefully he can stay healthy now

165 - 1:03:42 - Jake Barraclough - 'Ran to Japan' (YouTube) Brit with a good PB, also running Tokyo Marathon

217 - 1:05:49 - Yuki Kawauchi - it's going to be a long tough road back to where he was pre-injury. At 37, age is not on his side, but still rooting for him

WA results:

worldathletics.org

77th Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon | Results | World Athletics

World Athletics Events and Results

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