Nagoya Marathon
Over 22,000 athletes signed up for the Nagoya Women’s Marathon. The field was reduced to 11,000 and then finally capped at 5,000 due to pandemic concerns. A total of 4,704 ended up participating on Sunday. It is the largest women’s marathon in the world, and a World Athletics Platinum Label road race. It was the first mass participation road race to be held in Japan since the Covid-19 pandemic started.
Apparently, various extensive measures and restrictions were in place due to Covid-19.
“We established the Covid-19 Control Office with medical professionals, local governments of the City of Nagoya and Prefecture of Aichi, and the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) within the Marathon Organizing Committee, and formulated and implemented an infection control plan in accordance with the JAAF’s Guidance on Resumption of Road Racing and advice from medical experts and local government officials. We would like to share some of the key measures as below,” read the press release.
Mizuki Matsuda won in the time of 2:21:51. Sayaka Sato finished second in the time of 2:24:32 and for third Natsumi Matsushita clocked a 2:26:26. Thirteen women finished under 2:29:30, the Tokyo Olympic standard. One-hundred and 24 finished under three hours.
For Matsuda, the performance was just four seconds from her personal best, which the 25-year-old set in Osaka last year.