Marathon Selection Race for Paris Olympics Held in Tokyo
The highly anticipated marathon selection race for the upcoming Paris Olympics took place in Tokyo on the 15th, showcasing the extraordinary talent of athletes associated with Nagano prefecture. Notably, Suguru Osako and Ai Hosoda, both hailing from Nagano, demonstrated their prowess by securing third place finishes in their respective categories. Unfortunately, I was unable to secure a spot on the team in this fiercely competitive race.
The Marathon Grand Championship (MGC): The Road to Paris Olympics
The Marathon Grand Championship (MGC) serves as a crucial selection race where only the top two finishers earn the prestigious opportunity to represent Japan in the esteemed Paris Olympics. Among the male contenders, the renowned Osako Suguru, a graduate of Saku Chosei High School who secured an impressive 6th place finish in the Tokyo Olympics, entered the race with great determination.
Osako engaged in a thrilling battle for the second spot during the closing stages of the race, displaying his remarkable endurance and skill. Although he narrowly missed the mark, his third-place finish in the MGC marked his second consecutive strong showing. Reflecting on his performance, Osako shared, “Despite the challenging weather conditions, I managed to approach this race with a calm mindset, aiming to redefine my marathon performance. My ultimate goal is to secure a place on the national team.”
On the women’s front, Ai Hosoda, a native of Chino City and a distinguished Japanese athlete who secured second place in this year’s Tokyo Marathon, eagerly participated in the selection race. Hosoda showcased her tenacity by taking the lead early on in the race, displaying her unwavering determination.
Though Hosoda faced some setbacks and fell behind in the rankings, she persisted in her pursuit of the second-place runner, her trademark resilience shining through. Ultimately, she crossed the finish line in third place. Upon completing the race, Hosoda expressed her disappointment, saying, “It was certainly disheartening as I had my sights set on representing my country. Nevertheless, I will regroup and give my absolute best in the next endeavor.”
If no other contender manages to achieve a faster time than the remarkable records set in this selection race, both Osako and Hosoda will secure their spots to represent Japan in this prestigious event.
The marathon representative selection race for the Paris Olympics was held in Tokyo on the 15th, and among athletes associated with Nagano prefecture, male Suguru Osako and female Ai Hosoda both put up a strong effort, finishing in the 3rd place. I was not selected to represent the team in this race.
The MGC (Marathon Grand Championship) is a selection race where the top two finishers will be selected to represent the Paris Olympics.
For the boys, Osako Suguru, who graduated from Saku Chosei High School and finished 6th in the Tokyo Olympics, took part.
Osako had a fierce battle for second place in the closing stages, but barely managed to get close and finished third in the MGC for the second race in a row.
After finishing the race, Osako said, “Although the rain and wind were strong, I managed to run the race more calmly than last time, in order to see a new shape for my marathon. I also want to win the national team .”I was there.
On the other hand, in the women’s race, Ai Hosoda, a native of Chino City and a Japanese woman who finished second in the Tokyo Marathon this March, took part.
Hosoda was leading the race from the start taking the lead after 30km.
After that, Hosoda, who had dropped down the position, continued to chase the rider in second place with his typical tenacious run, but fell just short and finished in third place.
After finishing the race, Hosoda said, “It was a shock as I was aiming for the right to represent the country, but I made it through and now I’m ready to do my best for the next one.”
Mr Osako and Mr Hosoda will be chosen to represent the race if no other racer can achieve a faster time than the record set in the race.
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