'97 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon 

********* report(1) **************

TThe marathon has just started some minutes ago.
They are running now about 25 kilometer point.
The temperature is 2.7 degree C and wind speed is about 3 m/sec.
It is sleeting.


Six athletes came from overseas including Mackintire(?) of 
Australia who is now behind the top group.

I will report again soon.

********* report(2) **************

The top group is now running to the shore of Beppu bay 
heading north to Beppu city. The weather is the worst condition, 
sleeting and conter wind from the bay on the right.

The rout is from Oita municipal stadium to state route 10 to Beppu, 
where the turning point is, then back to Oita. 

Time elasped:60m00s52
Distance    :19.45 km
Top group   :3 runners
temperature :
wind        :

10 km time  :30m12s(record high)
20          :1h00m52s
30          :
40          :
goal        :

Sorry, the first report was wrong.

********** report(3) ************

The top runner, Gelt Tais of South Africa has just turned back.
The weather is the worst condition, sleeting tured to snow and conter 
wind from the bay on the right.

The rout is from Oita municipal stadium to state route 10 to Beppu, 
where the turning point is, then back to Oita. 

Time elasped:1h17m32
Distance    :25.49km(turning point)
Top group   :1 runner
temperature :
wind        :

10 km time  :30m12s(record high)
20          :1h00m52s
30          :
40          :
goal        :

********** report(4) ************

Gelt Tais of South Africa is still the top runner.
Can he clear 2h08m ? The weather is the worst condition, sleeting turned 
to snow and back wind from the bay on the left.

Time elasped:1h m32s
Distance    :40km
Top group   :Top Gelt Tais(S.Africa); 2nd Roland(Equador); 3rd Tajiri(JPN)
             top-second difference 480m
temperature :2.7 deg C
wind        :North east,4-6 m/s

10 km time  :30m12s(record high)
20          :1h00m52s
30          :1h32m50s
35          :1h47m12s
40          :
goal        :

********** report(5) ************

Gelt Tais of South Africa is still the top runner.Can he 
clear 2h08m ? The weather is the worst condition, sleeting tured to
snow and back wind from the bay on the left.

Time elasped:1h m32s
Distance    :40km
Top group   :Top Gelt Tais(S.Africa); 2nd Roland(Equador); 3rd Katsube(JPN)
             Tajiri fell down twice, but still staggering toward the goal

top-second difference 480m
temperature :2.7 deg C
wind        :North east,4-6 m/s

10 km time  :30m12s(record high)
20          :1h00m52s
30          :1h32m50s
35          :1h47m12s
40          :2h04m14s
goal        :

********** report(final) ************

Gelt Tais of South Africa was taken the top position by 
Roland Bela at 41.1km point, just before the stadium. An very 
impressive drama took place: Tajiri(JPN) first kept 2nd position 
but getting worse. He felled down to the knee at 38.62km, encouraged 
by a spectator, he rose, but again downed at 39.30km point, still 
his strong will stood him up again. He staggered into the stadium 
by the 8th but was passed by two runners. Finally he entered the 
goal by the 11th and fell down just inside of the goal line. 
He was carried immediately by a stretcher. There was no big applause 
for him because the audiences in the stadium didn't know the fact of 
his two times down. 

No news on the Australian runner.

10 km time  :30m12s(record high)
20          :1h00m52s
30          :1h32m50s
35          :1h47m12s
40          :2h04m14s
goal        :2h12m00s

The winner  :Roland Bela(Ecuador)
second      :Gelt Tais(S.Africa)
third       :Katsube(Japan)
11th        :Tajiri(Japan);2h19m11s

Thank you very much for your reading.