Local News

Fukuoka International Marathon took place in central Fukuoka City on Sunday, Dec. 2. Kenyan runner Joseph Gitau outpaced Polish Olympian Henryk Szost to take the lead for the last eight kilometres and secure a surprise win. The 24-year-old Japan-based runner who belongs to the JFE Steel athletics club in Hiroshima, clipped nearly 15 minutes off his personal best to cross the finish line in 2:06:58. Japan’s Hiroyuki Horibata failed to clear the required time to qualify for the world championships next year, finishing second in 2:08:24, while Szost, ninth in the London Olympics, came in third in 2:08:42. Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebrselassie, the Fukuoka champion in 2006, abandoned the race shortly after passing the 32 kilometre point. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun Dec 3, http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-10-146307-Kenyas-Gitau-wins-Fukuoka-marathon