Yuriko Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 祐梨子; born 12 December 1988) is a Japanese professional middle- and long-distance runner…
Yuriko Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 祐梨子; born 12 December 1988) is a Japanese professional middle- and long-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres. She represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She started out in middle-distance events, running in the 800 metres at the 2004 World Junior Championships and then winning a 1500 m silver medal at the World Youth Championships in Athletics the following year. She won the bronze medal in the 1500 m at the 2005 Asian Championships in Athletics and went one better at the 2006 Asian Games by taking the silver medal in Doha. Kobayashi moved up to specialise in longer distances and ran the 5000 m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after becoming the Japanese national champion in the event. She gave the best performance by an Asian runner in the women's 5000 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, finishing in eleventh and beating her domestic rival Yurika Nakamura. Kobayashi ended her season with a 5000 m gold medal at the 2009 East Asian Games. She was selected to represent Asia/Pacific at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup, but managed only eighth place in the 3000 m. The following January, she ran for Hyōgo at the 2011 Women's Inter-Prefectural Ekiden and set a new stage record in her section, although the team finished in ninth position overall. She was the bronze medalist in the 5000 m at the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships in Kobe, one place behind her compatriot Hitomi Niiya. At the International Chiba Ekiden in November she won the first women's stage for Japan, setting a race record for her leg, and the mixed team went on to finish a close second behind Kenya.
Famous People from Hyogo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture: 7 people
Tomo Morimoto (森本 友, Morimoto Tomo; born December 27, 1983) is a female long-distance runner from Japan who specialises…
Tomo Morimoto (森本 友, Morimoto Tomo; born December 27, 1983) is a female long-distance runner from Japan who specialises in the marathon. Born in Yamasaki, Hyōgo, Morimoto made her marathon debut at the 2006 Osaka Women's Marathon and, even though she was not an invited elite runner, she managed to finish in fifth place in a time of 2:27:46. She set her personal best (2:24:33) in the women's marathon on May 7, 2006, winning the Vienna City Marathon. This was the race's second fastest run for a woman at that point after Maura Viceconte's course record. She formed part of the Okayama team for the Inter-Prefectural Women's Ekiden in January 2008 and her 4 km leg helped the team to third place in the relay race. She hoped to be selected for the 2008 Summer Olympics and began her marathon season by running 2:25:34 for second place at the Osaka Marathon. She was also runner-up at the Vienna Marathon that year, finishing behind Luminița Talpoș who defended her title. She missed out on a place in the Japanese squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics as the selectors preferred to pick Yurika Nakamura. She signed up for the 2009 London Marathon and finished in eighth place with a time of 2:26:29 – the best performance by an Asian woman at the event. At the Berlin Marathon in September 2010 she was among the race favourites and took third place with a time of 2:26:10 behind Ethiopians Aberu Kebede and Bezunesh Bekele.
Rie Matsuoka (松岡 理恵, Matuoka Rie; born 9 March 1977) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In 2001, she competed in the…
Rie Matsuoka (松岡 理恵, Matuoka Rie; born 9 March 1977) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In 2001, she competed in the women's marathon at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She finished in 22nd place. In 2003, she competed in the women's marathon at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics held in Paris, France. She did not finish her race. In 1996, she finished in 6th place in the women's 5000 metres at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Athletics held in Sydney, Australia. Two years later, in 1998, she won the women's half marathon at the Sanyo Women's Half Marathon held in Okayama, Japan.
Eri Yamaguchi (山口 衛里, Yamaguchi Eri; born 14 January 1973 in Takino, Hyogo) is a Japanese long-distance runner who…
Eri Yamaguchi (山口 衛里, Yamaguchi Eri; born 14 January 1973 in Takino, Hyogo) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon race. She won the 1999 Tokyo International Women's Marathon and finished seventh at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Her personal best time is 2:22:12 hours.
Yumi Kokamo (小鴨 由水, Kokamo Yumi) (born December 26, 1971, in Akashi, Hyogo) is a retired female long-distance runner…
Yumi Kokamo (小鴨 由水, Kokamo Yumi) (born December 26, 1971, in Akashi, Hyogo) is a retired female long-distance runner from Japan. She won the 1992 edition of the Osaka Ladies Marathon. She clocked a winning time of 2:26:26 on January 26, 1992. Later that year Kokamo competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics, finishing in 29th place in the women's marathon race.
Yoshiko Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本佳子, born 6 March 1970) is a Japanese former marathon runner who won the 1990 Paris…
Yoshiko Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本佳子, born 6 March 1970) is a Japanese former marathon runner who won the 1990 Paris Marathon, came second at the 1992 Boston Marathon, and third at the 1992 New York City Marathon.
Toshihiro Shibutani (born August 30, 1962) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 1988 edition of…
Toshihiro Shibutani (born August 30, 1962) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 1988 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:11:04 on December 4, 1988.