Yukiko Akaba
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres, half marathon
and marathon
events.
She won the silver medal in half marathon at the 1999 Summer Universiade
. At the 2001 Summer Universiade
she finished eighth in the 5000 metres and won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres. She finished twentieth in the 10,000 metres at the 2008 Olympic Games
, but was less successful in the women's 5000 metres, failing to make the final. Her next global competition came at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
, where she finished 31st in the World Championship marathon race. She also ran at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
, but failed to make an impact in either the individual race or with the Japanese team.
In the beginning of the 2010, she entered the Osaka International Ladies Marathon as a possible podium contender, she dropped out mid-race. She soon returned to form, however, clocking a time of 1:11:09 for second place at the Matsue Ladies Half Marathon in March behind Kenyan Obare Doricah. Running at the 2010 London Marathon
, she took sixth place with a time of 2:24:55, a personal best for the distance. She won her first race at the 2011 Osaka Marathon, although she did not achieve the time standard to make the Japanese World Championships team. She achieved this at the 2011 London Marathon
, taking sixth for a second year running but also achieving a personal best time of 2:24:09 hours.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres, half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
and marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
events.
She won the silver medal in half marathon at the 1999 Summer Universiade
Athletics at the 1999 Summer Universiade
The Athletics Tournament at the 1999 Summer Universiade took place in the new Estadio Son Moix in Palma de Mallorca, Spain from July 4 to July 9, 1999. Five Universiade records were set.-Men’s events:-Women’s events:-References:* *...
. At the 2001 Summer Universiade
Athletics at the 2001 Summer Universiade
At the 2001 Summer Universiade, the athletics events were held in Beijing, People's Republic of China. A total of 45 events were contested, of which 23 by male and 22 by female athletes. The host country, China, took the most gold medals and the most medals overall . The United States were a close...
she finished eighth in the 5000 metres and won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres. She finished twentieth in the 10,000 metres at the 2008 Olympic Games
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 10000 metres
The following new Olympic record was set during this competition.Both Tirunesh Dibaba and Elvan Abeylegesse completed the race in a time under the old Olympic record, recording the second and third fastest ever women's 10,000 metre times, making Dibaba the new Olympic record holder.-Results:-Splits:...
, but was less successful in the women's 5000 metres, failing to make the final. Her next global competition came at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
, where she finished 31st in the World Championship marathon race. She also ran at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.-Organisation:...
, but failed to make an impact in either the individual race or with the Japanese team.
In the beginning of the 2010, she entered the Osaka International Ladies Marathon as a possible podium contender, she dropped out mid-race. She soon returned to form, however, clocking a time of 1:11:09 for second place at the Matsue Ladies Half Marathon in March behind Kenyan Obare Doricah. Running at the 2010 London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
, she took sixth place with a time of 2:24:55, a personal best for the distance. She won her first race at the 2011 Osaka Marathon, although she did not achieve the time standard to make the Japanese World Championships team. She achieved this at the 2011 London Marathon
2011 London Marathon
The 2011 London Marathon took place on Sunday, 17 April 2011. The men's elite race saw Emmanuel Mutai win in a course record time to become the fourth fastest ever over the distance. Runner-up Martin Lel sprinted to the line to beat Patrick Makau, completing a Kenyan sweep of the podium...
, taking sixth for a second year running but also achieving a personal best time of 2:24:09 hours.
Achievements
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
Representing 2009 Osaka Ladies Marathon Osaka, Japan 2nd 2:25:40 World Championships 2009 World Championships in AthleticsThe 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....Berlin, Germany 31st 2:37:43 2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's MarathonThe Women's Marathon event at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics took place on August 23, 2009 in the streets of Berlin, Germany. The race started at 11:15h local time.-Medalists:-Abbreviations:...2010 London Marathon London MarathonThe London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...London, United Kingdom 6th 2:24:55 2011 Osaka Ladies Marathon Osaka, Japan 1st 2:26:29 London Marathon London MarathonThe London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...London, United Kingdom 6th 2:24:09
Personal bests
- 5000 metres5000 metresThe 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
- 15:11.17 min (2005) - 10,000 metres - 31:15.34 min (2008)
- Half marathonHalf marathonA half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
- 1:08:11 min (2008) - MarathonMarathonThe marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
- 2:24:09 (2011)