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Fujiwara Withdraws From Tokyo Marathon

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2009030200609

translated by Brett Larner

Marathoner Arata Fujiwara (Team JR Higashi Nihon) announced on Mar. 2 that he has withdrawn from this month's Tokyo Marathon due to concerns that he would not recover in time from the fatigue and strain of recent intensive training. Fujiwara was 2nd overall and the top Japanese finisher at last year's Tokyo Marathon but was not selected for the Beijing Olympics.

The Tokyo Marathon is the final selection race for August's World Championships in Berlin. Fujiwara ran in the first selection race, December's Fukuoka International Marathon, where he was the second Japanese finisher and 3rd overall.
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Brett Larner said…
This news doesn't surprise me very much. I'm not even sure that Fujiwara was ever seriously considering running Tokyo as he was never listed among the team members doing Tokyo on JR's website. As I wrote in my Mar. 3 article about the WC team, he would have had to be the top Japanese in Tokyo or run a fantastic time to improve on his Fukuoka standing. Anything else would have weakened his position, so it would have been very risky.

At any rate, it doesn't sound like Fujiwara's injured, so maybe he'll turn up in Rotterdam, Boston or London. London would be especially interesting if Atsushi Sato does end up running.
March 4, 2009 at 11:13 AM
BrynRunning said…
Brett.

Firstly just to say thanks for the translations- really enjoy reading them all!

Secondly- what would have happened had Arat finished as second japanese finisher? I must admit that reading your first article it seemed (as someone unused to the Japanese selection criteria!) that arata could have taken second japanese finisher and then with second in two qualification races and no real stand out results at Biwa then it would have been an obvious selection?

Keep up the great work!
March 6, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Brett Larner said…
Hi Bryn. It would be a tough call, especially as a lot would depend on how Atsushi Sato did in London. If Fujiwara ran a fast time but were 2nd Japanese they would probably pick him, but if his time were only so-so they might have said, "Well, now you've proven that you can't even beat other Japanese runners," and gone with Kobayashi. That's just speculation, though. Last time they didn't pick Atsushi Fujita after he won Beppu-Oita in 2:10.

At any rate, the possible scenarios in which Fujiwara would have hurt his chances were higher than those in which he would help them, so it's not surprising he's not running.
March 6, 2009 at 9:49 AM
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