© Copyright – 2024 – Athletics Illustrated
Ethiopian Worknesh Edesa won the Osaka Women’s Marathon in Osaka, Japan on Sunday. She clocked a 2:18:51 new course record finish time. It is also a new personal best (pb). The 31-year-old ran an identical time at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. Osaka is her first win in one of the six Marathon Majors.
Japanese runner Honami Maeda finished in second place in the time of 2:18:59. In so doing, she set a new national and Asian record. Mizuki Matsuda also of Japan clocked a 2:23:07 finish for third. Ten finished 2:26:50, the 2024 Paris Olympic standard is 2:26:50. Five runners from Japan ran faster than the Olympic standard in Osaka.
Honami Maeda broke a long standing Japanese record and got 2nd place in 2.18.59 in Osaka Women’s marathon.
— Ayako Oikawa (@AyakoOikawa) January 28, 2024
Edesa 🇪🇹 won the race with 2.18.51 https://t.co/MR55MDB5mM
Five pacers took the lead group of Sayaka Sato, Stella Chesang, Mizuki Matsuda Edesa, Maeda, and Sayaka Sato through halfway in the time of 1:09:46. At halfway, Maeda, dropped the pace down to 3:11/km to try to spread the lead pack. She looked comfortable doing so.
Maeda recorded a 2:18:41 pace through 30K. Edesa was five seconds back. It was at the 20-mile mark (32K) when Edesa made a big move. Edesa managed to add a little more gap in the late stages.
It would be Edesa to take the win, with a 33-second negative split.
Top-10 results
1. Workenesh Edesa (ETH) – 2:18:51 =PB and new CR
2. Honami Maeda (JPN) – 2:18:59 – NR and Asian Record
3. Mizuki Matsuda (JPN) – 2:23:07
4. Stella Chesang (UGA) – 2:23:36
5. Sayaka Sato (JPN) – 2:24:43
6. Katharina Steinruck (GER) – 2:24:56
7. Natsumi Matsushita (JPN) – 2:25:10
8. Yuna Daito (JPN) – 2:25:16
9. Madoka Nakano (JPN) – 2:26:50
10. Mayu Nishikawa (JPN) – 2:26:50
Featured image: Honami Maeda crosses the finish line in a national record of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 59 seconds on Sunday in Osaka. | KYODO
