Shogo Nakamura and Yuma Hattori edged national record holder Suguru Osako to finish first and second in the men's competition at Sunday's Marathon Grand Championship, punching their tickets to next year's Tokyo Olympics.
In the women's race, Honami Maeda and Ayuko Suzuki secured spots as they captured the gold and silver medals at the inaugural Japanese Olympic trial event.
Both races started and finished at Ichio Namiki Avenue in Meiji Jingu Gaien Park. The course, which went through some of the city's most scenic spots including Asakusa's Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the famous Ginza shopping district and the Imperial Palace, was nearly identical to the one planned for Tokyo 2020.
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