Mariko Yugeta, 62, marathon world record

We live in an amazing time – barriers that seemed indestructible are crumbling.

I am especially excited about the advancement of world records in adult runners, this is a true indicator of the overall progress of mankind and human capabilities. All the talk about “I’m already 30 and I’m not the same as I was at 20” is simply ridiculous.

On the one hand, the epidemic of obesity, starting from childhood, on the other hand, the amazingly high results of the Masters, starting from 40 years and above.

I really hope that the example of the older generation will inspire children, teenagers and adults to go in for sports.

On November 4, 2019, 61-year-old Mariko Yugeta, a Japanese woman from Saitama Prefecture, became the first woman over 60 in history to run a marathon faster than 3 hours – 2:59:15.

A month later, Mariko Yugeta improved her record – 2:56:54 – 60+ WR, PB!

And now, more than a year has passed, Yugeta is already 62!!

And Mariko Yugeta is running faster and faster.

At the 2021 Osaka Women’s Marathon (Elite only) inside Nagai Park – almost 15 laps, Mariko Yugeta (62)

ran 42.2 km in an amazing 2:52.13!

Here are the official results:

1. Mao Ichiyama (Wacoal) – 2:21:11 – MR, WL

2. Honami Maeda (Tenmaya) – 2:23:30 – PB

3. Yukari Abe (Shimamura) – 2:24:41 – PB

4. Mao Uesugi (Starts) – 2:24:52 – PB

5. Ayumi Hagiwara (Toyota Jidoshokki) – 2:26:15 – debut

6. Mirai Waku (Universal Entertainment) – 2:26:42 – PB

7. Ayano Ikemitsu (Kagoshima Ginko) – 2:28:26

8. Anna Matsuda (Kyocera) – 2:29:52 – PB

9 Mizuki Tanimoto (Tenmaya) – 2:31:07

10. Shiho Kaneshige (GRlab Kanto) – 2:31:56

11. Madoka Nakano (Iwatani Sangyo) – 2:32:56

12. Shiho Takechi (Yamada Denki) – 2:35:54

13. Kaoru Nagao (Sunfield AC) – 2:38:37

14. Haruka Yamaguchi (AC Kita) – 2:39:26

15. Tomomi Sawahata (Saitama T&F Assoc.) – 2:40:19

16. Yuko Kawauchi (Nissei) – 2:40:22

17. Maki Nishioka (Wakayama Triathlon Assoc.) – 2:40:53 – PB

18. Tomoko Horioka (unattached) – 2:41:00 – PB

19. Natsuki Ogawa (Kobe Gakuin Univ.) – 2:41:10 – PB

20. Chizuru Oi (Nara-X AC) – 2:41:26 – debut

21. Mai Fujisawa (Sapporo Excel AC) – 2:41:39

22. Yumi Miyanaga (Osaka Geijutsu Univ.) – 2:42:29 – debut

23. Hiroko Miyauchi (Hokuren) – 2:44:09

24. Rui Miike (Osaka Univ.) – 2:44:29 – PB

25. Mikiko Ota (Kyoto Sumiyama AC) – 2:44:53 – PB

—–

48. Mariko Yugeta (Saitama OIG) – 2:52:13 – 60+ WR, PB

Mariko Yugeta finished 48th out of 61 finishers.

This time Mariko Yugeta ran with a positive split – the first half in 1:25:01, the second in 1:27:12. That is, she clearly intended to change 2:50!

This is the motivation for everyone, thank you Mariko Yugeta!

Everyone run!