Marathon: South African Thys wins Beppu-Oita Mainichi race
February 5, 2006Gert Thys of South Africa ran alone comfortably in the final 12 kilometers to win the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon on Sunday for the second time and first in 10 years. Thys, who won the 1996 race in a meet record, pulled away shortly after the 30-kilometer mark and came home with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 45 seconds, finishing 2:01 ahead of runner-up Tomoyuki Sato of Japan.
Tennis: Hingis falls to Dementieva in Toray Pan Pacific final
February 5, 2006Former world No. 1 Martina Hingis of Switzerland was overpowered 6-2, 6-0 by Russian second-seed Elena Dementieva in the final at the Toray Pan Pacific Open on Sunday. Hingis, playing as a wild card, had the backing of the capacity crowd at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium but world No. 9 Dementieva dictated the match with powerful serves to win her first title at the Tokyo meet.
Half-marathon: Fukushi sets national record
February 5, 2006Kayoko Fukushi set a national record in winning the women's race at the Marugame half-marathon on Sunday, breaking the mark held by Athens Olympic marathon gold medalist Mizuki Noguchi. Fukushi crossed the finish line at Marugame municipal stadium in Kagawa Prefecture in 1 hour, 7 minutes and 26 seconds. Noguchi came second in 1:07.43 in her first competitive race since winning the Berlin Marathon in a national record last September.