Mathathi and Makikawa Will Defend Marugame Titles

Published by IAAF on January 15, 2015

Kenya’s Martin Mathathi and Japan’s Eri Makikawa will line up at the Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon on 1 February to defend their titles at the IAAF Silver Label Road Race.

But their task won’t be an easy one. Mathathi will be up against Bernard Koech, the fastest man of 2013 with his 58:41 clocking, while Makikawa will take on USA’s Shalane Flanagan, the 2008 Olympic and 2011 World Cross bronze medallist.

Mathathi was just 23 seconds shy of his PB when he triumphed in Marugame last year in 1:00:11, crossing the line 39 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger. Makikawa enjoyed a similarly comfortable victory in the women’s race, clocking a PB of 1:00:27 in the process.

In his most recent race, Mathathi finished a distant 21st at the Fukuoka Marathon, but the 2007 world 10,000m bronze medallist will need to be back at his best to challenge the likes of Koech.

The 26-year-old Kenyan has broken the 60-minute barrier on five occasions, including last year when running 59:46 in Ras al-Khaimah. Later in 2014 he clocked a world-leading 45:12 when winning over 10 miles in Tilburg.

Also in the field are Eritrea’s world half-marathon silver medallist Samuel Tsegaye, former world half-marathon champion Fabiano Joseph of Tanzania, and Olympic 5000m finalist Juan Luis Barrios of Mexico. Meanwhile, Commonwealth 5000m bronze medallist Zane Robertson will be making his half-marathon debut.