News Archive

At the 28th real,-Berlin-Marathon, the Japanese star become the first woman to

run the distance under two hours, 20 minutes - a historic achievement.

The tiny Takahashi ran a world record 2hr 19min 46sec around the streets of

the German capital realising a dream nurtured by two generations of marathon

women. Added to her Olympic title - the first ever for a Japanese (man or

woman) - this made Takahashi the biggest star in a country where the marathon

is virtually the national sport. The record has been broken in the meantime,

and now stands to Kenyas Catherine Ndereba, with 2.18.47.

But Takahashis popularity remains unaffected in Japan and Berlin, although

she hasn raced since her world record. At the moment, she is training at

altitude in Boulder, Colorado, just like last year.

"I am looking forward to my return to Berlin," said Takahashi

yesterday from her US base. "The city, the organisation and the course are

all fantastic, and I hope I will be able to excite the many Berliners along the

course once again".

German TV network, ARD will broadcast the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON live from

08.35 until 11.30 on September 29. FUJI TV will broadcast the race live in

Japan, as they did last year, when they achieved a record 53 million

viewers.

With a field limited to 33,000 runners and 8,000 skaters, Berlin on

September 29th will host its biggest marathon ever.