- Oct. 19 Event Features Guest Runner Yuki Kawauchi, P.R. Ambassador Masako Chiba -

The Chiba Aqua-Line Marathon Planning Committee has announced entry application details for the 2014 Chiba Aqua-Line Marathon, which will be held on October 19.

The Committee has invited Masahiro Okamura, who placed 4th in the marathon at the London Paralympics, and Saitama Prefectural Government employee Yuki Kawauchi to participate as guest runners in the full marathon and half-marathon, respectively. Sports commentator Masako Chiba will reprise her role from last year as the event's P.R. Ambassador.

Non-Japanese nationals are invited to participate in the International Division of runners.

1. Entry applications (See application guidelines on the official website for details)

    (1) How to apply:

          a. Internet (via Sports Entry)  http://www.sportsentry.ne.jp/ (Japanese Only)

          b. Mobile phones (via mobile site)  http://www.sportsentry.ne.jp/mobile/ (Japanese Only)

    (2) Application period:

          Friday, April 4 at 12:00 PM - Saturday, April 19

    (3) International Division (150 participants): Limited to participants of non-Japanese nationality

         *Participants will be selected by lottery if there are a large number of applications.

2. Guest runners

    - Full Marathon: Mr. Masahiro Okamura (43), placed 4th in the visually impaired division in the London 2012 Paralympics Marathon (2 hours, 28 minutes, 51 seconds)

    - Half-Marathon: Mr. Yuki Kawauchi (26), an employee of the Saitama Prefectural Government, winner of the Chiba Aqua-Line Marathon 2012 (2 hours, 17 minutes, 48 seconds) , winner of the 2013 Gold Coast Marathon (2 hours, 10 minutes, 1 second)

3. P.R. Ambassador: Ms. Masako Chiba, former long-distance and marathon runner, now a sports commentator.  First in the world to win medals in two events at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics (Women's 10,000m, Women's Marathon in separate years).