Japanese runner Shimomur Satoru won the half marathon yesterday as he showed his rivals a clean pair of heels and then said the race gave him good preparation for next month's Kyoto Marathon.
Satoru always had the measure of his rivals as he stormed to the finish in a good time of one hour, eight minutes and four seconds. He finished almost seven minutes clear of Hong Kong's Chan Ka-ho, who clocked 1:15.03, and Chow Tin-fat, who came home in 1:16.31.
'I decided to compete in this half marathon because I am in training and I want to do well in the Kyoto Marathon in two weeks' time.
'This half marathon will give me the speed to do well in Kyoto,' said Satoru, who works in the manufacturing sector and who has a personal best time in the half marathon of 1:04.10.
'I will compete in the full marathon next year. I am quite satisfied with my performance. It was quite hilly and conditions were not ideal for racing. The wind was very strong and I felt I was battling the elements today. If the race was held on a flat surface, I think I would have got a better time,' he said.
'I am very happy and proud to have won this race.'
The Japanese completed the New York Marathon in 2002 when he finished 60th in a time of two hours and 32 minutes.