Kengo Suzuki wins final Lake Biwa Marathon in 2:04:56; sets 5:25 personal best in front of 41 sub-2:10 performances

© Copyright – 2021 – Athletics Illustrated

Running fans knew that going in the 2021 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon’s entry list was going to be deep. There were at least 25 competitors who have run sub-2:10 and 50-plus who have run faster than 2:12. Sunday in Otsu, Shiga, Japan the event provided a stunning display of depth.

Kengo Suzuki won the event in a new national record time of 2:04:56.

Hidekazu Hijikata and Kyohei Hosoya both finished sub-2:07 for second and third respectively. Hijikata clocked a 2:06:26 and Hosoya 2:06:35.

Suzuki’s previous best was 2:10:21 from Tokyo 2018. That’s an improvement of a colossal 5:25.  

Big congrats to @Kengo_Suzuki_ 🎉
Smashed the Japanese marathon record by clocking sub-2:05!
Such an impressive performance at the last Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon! https://t.co/DzdgWbgGuH

— Tokyo Marathon Foundation (@TokyoMarathon_E) February 28, 2021

The previous Japanese record was 2:05:29 accomplished in March last year at the Tokyo Marathon by Suguru Osako. The course record was held by Kenyan Wilson Kipsang at 2:06:13 from his running in 2011.

Lake Biwa saw another strong performance by the ‘citizen runner’ Yuki Kawauchi. His best going into the race was 2:08:14. Kawauchi  clocked a 2:07:27 to finish in 10^th place.

Fifteen runners finished under 2:08. Twenty-eight clicked sub-2:09, 42 were under 2:10.

Records are not ratified immediately, the course will need to be re-measured.

This was the final edition of the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon before it moves to Osaka next year.