Course records, Swedish national record set at Ageo City Half Marathon
Conditions were perfect for records to fall at the Japanese race
It was a day of records at the 31st Ageo City Half Marathon in Japan today, with both men’s and women’s course records falling, a new Swedish national record (by 20 seconds) set by David Nilsson, and multiple personal bests achieved, in a race that seems to get faster every year. According to Japan Running News, which refers to this race as “the world’s greatest half-marathon,” four men ran under 62 minutes. 2018 Boston Marathon champion Yuki Kawauchi and Japanese national marathon record-holder Yuta Shitara were also among the runners.
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Men's and women's CR, a Swedish NR, 4 men under 62 minutes, 18 under 63 minutes. Every year it seems like the question is how much further can the Ageo City Half Marathon go? The answer still seems to be more. More further. https://t.co/uXgikwlunF pic.twitter.com/Ak6gb2IYhW
— Japan Running News (@JRNHeadlines) November 18, 2018
In the women’s race, Kaori Yoshida set a new course record of 1:11:54, the second year in a row the record has been broken. Defending champion Chun Yu Tsao of Taiwan finished second, in 1:13:56, a new PB for her. Kaoru Nagao was third, in 1:15:50–one second faster than Tsao’s time from 2017.
.@nyrr welcomes the top-2 Japanese collegiate finishers from the #AgeoHalf and their coaches every year for the #UnitedNYCHalf the following March. Great job Ken and Genki to qualify today! https://t.co/leYw9a4wu1
— David Monti (@d9monti) November 18, 2018
On the men’s side, Kenyan Vincent Laimoi took the win, setting a new course record of 1:01:19. Ken Nakayama was second, in 1:01:32, a personal best and the best time ever set at this race by a Japanese man. Ethiopian Worknesh Derese was third, in 1:01:50. Shitara finished fourth, in 1:01:59, and Nilsson fifth, in 1:02:09.
Nilsson and Shitara 55:45 at 19k, 1:01:54 pace pic.twitter.com/sVUGfPjlG2
— Japan Running News (@JRNHeadlines) November 18, 2018
The top two Japanese collegiate finishers are invited to the next running of the New York half-marathon. Nakayama, of Chuo University, and Genki Kaneko of Josai University received their invitation from Shitara, who was the first Japanese university runner to be invited, back in 2012.
Kawauchi, who has had a number of disappointing times in recent months, finished 14th, with his career third-fastest time of 1:02:49. He and Shitara will square off at the Fukuoka Marathon on December 2.
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