Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi falls mid-race, runs 50th sub-2:15 marathon at worlds
The 30-year-old, known as the "citizen runner" in Japan, finished ninth at the IAAF World Championships even after a mid-race tumble
Yuki Kawauchi, Japan’s “citizen runner,” continues to pile up fast marathon times.
The 30-year-old, according to Japan Running News, ran his 38th career sub-2:13 marathon on Sunday at the IAAF World Championships in London. The Japanese athlete ran 2:12:19 for ninth-place after falling near 23K, in the process losing considerable time. Japan Running News, via Twitter, reports that the performance was his 50th sub-2:15 and 65th sub-2:18 marathons, all world bests.
#London2017 was Kawauchi's 38th career sub-213, 50th sub-2:15 and 65th sub-2:18, all new world records. pic.twitter.com/KK4WM3oJAF
— Japan Running News (@JRNHeadlines) August 7, 2017
川内と中本、集団最後尾で様子を伺う?#london2017 #marathon pic.twitter.com/mkPNLv0NDA
— EKIDEN_MANIA (@ekiden_mania) August 6, 2017
This guy!! pic.twitter.com/5OkAR9tUHf
— Chris G (@CGreeny_11) August 7, 2017
Kawauchi ran a smart race going through the first 5K in 65th spot. By the time the half-marathon point rolled around, he was in 20th, going through 21.1K in 1:05:37. He continued to pick off runners, making his way into the top-10 by the 40K mark and passing one other runner in the final stages of the race.
His lifetime best for the marathon is 2:08:14. Kawauchi is particularly popular in the athletics world because of how often he runs marathons as well as holding a full-time government job on top of his training schedule.
Meanwhile, Canadian Eric Gillis dropped out due to stomach problems as Thomas Toth was the lone Canadian to finish the men’s marathon at worlds. The relative newcomer to the marathon, London 2017 was his second attempt at the distance, Toth placed 54th in 2:23:47. Kenya’s Geoffrey Kirui won in 2:08:27.