Boston Marathon winner Mr. Yuki Kawauchi to compete at BMO Vancouver Marathon
Over 6,500 destination runners traveling to Vancouver, BC
January 15, 2019 – Vancouver, BC –
Update – Kawauchi arrives
Japanese favourite and last year’s Boston Marathon champion, Mr. Yuki Kawauchi, has chosen the BMO Vancouver Marathon to be his debut race in Canada this May of 2019.
“I’m very excited for the BMO Vancouver Marathon to be my first race in Canada,” adds Mr. Kawauchi. “I’ve heard that Vancouver is a world-class beautiful city, and I can’t wait to experience it for myself and to meet and run with all my fellow runners.”
The news follows an eventful year for Mr. Kawauchi, who became the first Japanese runner to win the Boston Marathon since 1987. Balancing training with a 40-hour work week, the “citizen runner” finished off the calendar year with a victory at the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon in 2:11:29..
The BMO Vancouver Marathon course record has remained untouched since 2015 when Luka Chelimo (KEN) finished in 2:18:37. With a personal best of 2:08:14 (2013), Mr. Kawauchi could very well challenge that time, and maybe even the event record of 2:13:14.
Mr. Kawauchi holds numerous world records including the most career sub-2:11 marathons (20 times) and the most sub-2:16 marathons in one calendar year (12 times).
“My goal is to win,” says Mr. Kawauchi, who looks to become the first Japanese runner to win the Vancouver Marathon title in 20 years.
“To welcome an Elite Athlete of Mr. Kawauchi’s status is a testament to our course, and City,” adds Eric Chéné, race director of RUNVAN®, the non-profit event organizers. “We are extremely excited and honoured to welcome Mr. Kawauchi, and the thousands of international runners who annually choose Vancouver, BC, as their next destination race.”
Vancouver’s only Marathon now draws over 3,500 international runners and over 6,500 destination runners annually. The event is coming off a record-breaking year that saw more than 17,250 runners registered from nearly 65 countries.
Among that line-up last year was Zheng Zhiling (CHN), who became the first Chinese runner to win Vancouver’s only Marathon event, and Margarita Quintero (MEX) who took second. Both Elite Athletes intend to return to race the BMO Vancouver Marathon again.
“It’s my favourite course because it’s very beautiful,” adds the Chinese Olympian Zheng.
“The BMO Vancouver Marathon and our Province of B.C. indeed offer a uniquely scenic experience that every Marathon runner should add to their bucket-list,” offers Chéné.
Connected to the City and nature, the scenic BMO Vancouver Marathon is ranked one of the world’s Top Destination Marathons by the likes of Forbes, CNN and USA Today. For more information on Canada’s top destination race and its Elite field, please visit bmovanmarathon.ca
The BMO Vancouver Marathon is a top Boston Marathon qualifier.
Photos courtesy of the Boston Marathon
Update – Kawauchi arrives
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