Takahashi, rookie with a never say quit attitude

By Primastuti Handayani

BANGKOK (JP): Japanese Naoko Takahashi may be a rookie in the women's marathon but she successfully followed Julius Caesar's Vini, Vidi, Vici(I came, I saw, I conquered) by capturing the first gold medal of the 13th Asian Games here on Sunday.

The 26-year-old runner, born in Gifu, west of Nagoya, on May 6, 1972, had only competed in the marathon twice before her victorious run on Sunday.

Her first victory came in the Nagoya International marathon where she set a new Japanese record of two hours 25 minutes and 48 seconds. She upset Russian Valentina Yegorova, winner of an Olympic gold and silver medal.

Takahashi began training for the 13th Asian Games just two months before the event, but despite the absence of special preparations she carved out a piece of history. She set a new Asiad record of two hours 21 minutes and 46 seconds.

"There's no special preparation. It's just like facing any marathon race," said the runner, a lover of Chinese and sea food.

The diminutive, smiling girl bowed to Japanese supporters after crossing the finish line. One of the Japanese fans gave her the national flag, but she refused to take a victory lap.

Training

Japanese national coach, Yoshunori Hamada, said that his runner underwent her training in U.S. state of Colorado.

"She can now qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, but she has to compete in one of four races next summer," he said.

Takahashi will compete in either the World Championships in Siberia next August, or one of three races in Japan.

Her coach, Yushio Koide, expressed optimism that Takahashi would qualify for the Olympics.

"With her winning, she will be the best Olympic hopeful for Sydney. She's really strong," he said.

Koide also said that he was surprised with Takahashi's result, considering that his runner only started running the marathon eight months ago.

"I was only expecting her to clock two hours and 26 minutes or, at the most, 33 minutes. But luckily she set the Asiad record," he said.

Patience and hard work were two keys to the success of Takahashi in Thailand. She did not pay attention to any other factor as much as the weather, which was hot and humid compared to Japan's winter weather.

"The marathon is a race of patience in hot, humid conditions, on flat and straight course," she said.

She also did not think about her opponents too much.

"I hadn't heard anything about other countries' runners. It's a competition against myself. It's just a question of whether I'm able to give 100 percent. And I did," she said with a smile. (yan)