Yoko Shibui win at the 2009 Osaka International Ladies Marathon saw herself getting a spot on the Japanese national team for the IAAF World Championships in Berlin next August.

She won the marathon convincingly in a time of 2:23:42 hours.

Her nearest competitor was some nearly 2 minutes away, as Yukiko Akaba could only finish second in a time of 2:25:40 hours.

This will be the 29 year old Shibui’s third career marathon victory, and twice at this competition.

The Mitsui Sumitomo star who has a personal best of 2:19:41 commented, “I was not consciously picking up the pace, but I just ran faster and faster. I was never able to pick up the pace at the end of the race. I think I have figured out how to win the marathon.”

2009 Osaka International Women’s Marathon Finishers

1. Yoko Shibui (Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) – 2:23:42
2. Yukiko Akaba (Team Hokuren) – 2:25:40 – debut
3. Yumiko Hara (Team Kyocera) – 2:26:57
4. Miki Ohira (Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) – 2:27:08
5. Lidia Simon (Romania) – 2:27:14
6. Mika Okunaga (Team Kyudenko) – 2:27:16 – PB
7. Ruth Wanjiru (Second Wind AC) – 2:27:38 – debut
8. Madoka Ogi (Team Juhachi Ginko) – 2:27:56
9. Akane Wakita (Team Toyota Jidoshokki) – 2:31:16 – debut
10. Akemi Ozaki (Second Wind AC) – 2:32:09

Leader’s 5 km Splits

5 km – 17:25 (Simon)
10 km – 17:07 (Simon) [34:32]
15 km – 17:18 (Akaba) [51:49]
20 km – 17:20 (Akaba/Simon) [1:09:10]
half – 1:13:01 (Simon)
25 km – 17:29 (Akaba) [1:26:39]
30 km – 17:16 (Shibui) [1:43:56]
35 km – 16:11 (Shibui) [2:00:07]
40 km – 16:33 (Shibui) [2:16:40]
42.195 km – 7:02 (Shibui) [2:23:42]

timings via jrn