Japanese record-holder Atsushi Fujita and surprise package Yoko Shibui were named to the 10-member national marathon team for the athletics world championships this summer, the Japan Amateur Athletics Federation (JAAF) announced Tuesday. Fujita set the Japanese record of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 51 seconds in Fukuoka last December to become the early favorite for the Japanese team for the world meet in Edmonton, Alberta, this August.
Along with Fujita, Beppu-Oita marathon winner Takayuki Nishida (2:08:45) and Shigeru Aburaya (2:07:52), third at the Lake Biwa marathon earlier this month, were also confirmed for the team.