Atsushi Fujita sets Japanese national best to win
the 54th Fukuoka International marathon
K. Ken Nakamura
3 December 2000 - Atsushi Fujita, who broke a national collegiate marathon best in 1999 with 2:10:07, set a national marathon best of 2:06:51 in the 54th Fukuoka International marathon on Sunday.
In the process, not only did Fujita defeated Gezahenge Abera, the Olympic marathon champion, he also broke the course record (2:07:28) set by 1996 Olympic champion Josia Thugwane in 1997. He became the 11th fastest marathon runner in history after improving his PR by over three minutes. His margin of victory, 2 minutes and 13 seconds was the largest since the 1987 race when Takeyuki Nakayama won in 2:08:18, with Manasani Shintaku second with 2:10:34.
It was the first time since 1991 that a Japanese had won this prestigious marathon. The situation was similar to the late seventies when the foreign runners won from 1971 to 1977. In 1978, a young new star, Toshihiko Seko emerged, and won the race with 2:10:21. In the 1999 Lake Biwa marathon, Fujita broke a collegiate record (2:10:12) held by Seko. Like Seko twenty-two years ago, 24 year old Fujita is now heralded as the star who could return Japan to the top of the marathon scene.
With dismal failure in the Olympic men’s marathon, Japanese marathon fans and media awaited the 54th Fukuoka marathon hoping to witness the breakthrough of an emerging new star. The main candidates were Atsushi Fujita, Noriaki Igarashi, Tomoaki Kunichika and Yoshiteru Morishita. However Morishita, who was fifth in the last year’s edition, was suffering from a fever, and pulled out of the race at the last minute. Kunichika, who was sixth last year was never in the contention and dropped out at 16.3Km.
With the help of pacesetters Armando Quintanilla of Mexico and Fred Kiprop of Kenya, the race started fast. With Kipropand Quintanilla in the lead, the lead pack of approximately 20 runners passed 5Km in 14:54. The race continued fast, and the pack of 17 runners passed 10Km in 29:58. It was turning into a race of attrition. Thirteen runners passed 15Km in 45:05. The pack was reduced to nine runners by 20Km (1:00:06). Just after the half way point (1:03:26) Quintanilla dropped out leaving Kiprop the sole pacesetter. After leading 25Km in 1:15:23, Kiprop too dropped out at 26Km. Suddenly Atsushi Fujita who was following Kiprop close found himself leading the pack of six including Abera, Thys, Behar, Lee and Igarashi. Soon Gezahenge Abera who was hiding well in the pack during the early part of the race assumed the lead. The lead pack was reduced to four - Abera, Fujita, Gert Thys of South Africa and Abdellah Behar of France. With pacesetters gone, the pace turned somewhat erratic. When the pace slowed Lee Bong-ju and Noriaki Igarashi regained contact with the leader. The pack was back to six. With cloud moving into the sky, Fujita intentionally skipped the aid station at 28Km and pushed the pace. The 30Km mark was passed in 1:30:37 with Fujita in the lead. Although Abera took the lead from time to time, it was mostly Fujita who was leading. Disliking Abera following too close, Fujita moved from the right side of the street to the left side and then back to the right side in attempt to shake off Abera. With Behar losing contact at 30Km, and Thys gone a kilometre later, the race was down to Abera and Fujita by 31Km. Fujita was looking for the first Japanese win in nine years, while Abera was looking to become the first repeat winner since 1980. The duel continued passed 35Km (1:45:44) with Fujita still in the lead. In the post-race interview, Fujita revealed his race plan:
"Since I was not confident about my finishing kick, I was planning to surge with 4Km to go. However, just before the 36Km I saw that Abera fell behind. So I pushed the pace."
The gap opened up quickly. One kilometre later Abera was 18 seconds behind, and by 38Km he was 32 seconds behind Fujita. Fujita was flying, and by 40Km his lead grew to a minute and 20 seconds. It was a combination of Fujita increasing a pace and Abera slowing down. Fujita covered 35Km to 40Km in amazing 14:44, while Abera took 16:04 for the same 5Km.
"Until 40Km I was afraid that someone might be gaining on me. However, by 40Km, I was going for the national best," said Fujita in the post-race interview. He continued to push hard covering the each kilometre in less than 3 minutes. When Fujita passed 41Km in 2:03:19, the national best seemed to be a realistic goal. Fujita pushed hard on the uphill leading to the stadium. He crossed the finish line in 2:06:51, breaking the previous national best of 2:06:57 held by Takayuki Inubushi, and set in the 1999 Berlin marathon.
Lee Bong-ju was second in 2:09:04, Abdellah Behar was third in 2:09:09, Noriaki Igarashi was fourth in 2:09:26 and the defending champion Abera was fifth in 2:09:45. Two years ago in the 1998 Fukuoka marathon, Igarashi recorded a very promising 2:09:38 by finishing fourth in his marathon debut. Unfortunately, he injured his achilles tendon soon after the race. After missing most of 1999, he decided to have a surgery in January of 2000. After a long rehabilitation, this was his first serious race. He accomplished his goal of setting a PR, however, he was only the second Japanese. The former world best performer Ronaldo da Costa dropped out at 28Km.
Fujita, who is known to avoid anything that is detrimental to his running, set his goal of running Fukuoka marathon after missing the 2000 Lake Biwa marathon, an Olympic qualifying race with an injury. In the pre-race interview, Fujita said: "My goal is to run 2:08 and to be in the race for a victory. At the very least, I would like to run a sub 2:10 marathon and be the first Japanese," referring to the criteria for the World Championships marathon team selection criteria the Japan AAF has set. He surpassed his goal by a large margin. "I would like to run aggressively in Edmonton, and win a medal," concluded Fujita who finished sixth in Sevilla.
Sunny, 17.1C, 51% humidity, NNW wind of 2.2m/s at the start.
1) Atsushi Fujita (JPN) 2:06:51
2) Lee Bong-ju (KOR) 2:09:04
3) Abdellah Behar (FRA) 2:09:09
4) Noriaki Igarashi (JPN) 2:09:26
5) Gezehange Abera (ETH) 2:09:45
6) Toshiya Katayama (JPN) 2:13:48
7) Gert Thys (RSA) 2:14:28
8) Anders Szalkai (SWE) 2:15:33
9) Makhosonke Fika (RSA) 2:16:09
10) Takeshi Hamano (JPN) 2:16:10
Leader’s split (same for the Fujita’s split)
5Km 14:54
10Km 29:58 (15:04)
15Km 45:05 (15:07)
20Km 1:00:06 (15:01)
Half 1:03:26 (unofficial)
25Km 1:15:23 (15:17)
30Km 1:30:37 (15:14)
35Km 1:45:44 (15:07)
40Km 2:00:28 (14:44)
42.195Km 2:06:51 (6:23)
