Dereje takes the win, Nishiyama runs boldly to finish second overall
At the fifty sixth Hofu Yomiuri Marathon, a Marathon Grand Championship Series 2025 to 26 race held on December 7 in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Workner Dereje of Hiramatsu Hospital won the men’s G1 race in 2 hours 6 minutes 58 seconds, a new course record according to the provisional time. Among the Japanese runners, Kazuya Nishiyama of Toyota Motor Corporation produced an impressive run to finish second overall in 2 hours 7 minutes 49 seconds. He crossed the line with both arms raised in celebration, shouting with joy as he secured his place at the Marathon Grand Championship, the selection race for the 2027 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Conditions for earning a place at the MGC
The qualifying standard for the Marathon Grand Championship is to run within 2 hours 9 minutes 0 seconds and place within the top six Japanese finishers. With his 2 hours 7 minutes 49 seconds and position as the second Japanese finisher, Nishiyama met these criteria and clinched his MGC spot. In the same race, Yuta Koyama of Toennec also clocked 2 hours 8 minutes 19 seconds in fourth place overall and provisionally grabbed his ticket to the MGC.
Top results at the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon
All times are provisional.
Men’s results
| Place | Athlete | Team | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Workner Dereje | Hiramatsu Hospital | 2:06:58 | Course record |
| 2 | Kazuya Nishiyama | Toyota Motor | 2:07:49 | Top Japanese finisher, MGC qualifier (provisional) |
| 3 | Bedan Karoki | Toyota Motor | 2:08:04 | Course record |
| 4 | Yuta Koyama | Toennec | 2:08:19 | MGC qualifier (provisional) |
| 5 | Junnosuke Matsuo | NTT West Japan | 2:09:55 |
Women’s results
| Place | Athlete | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mizuki Nishimura | Tenmaya | 2:25:54 |
| 2 | Ayumi Morita | Tokyo Metro | 2:26:48 |
| 3 | Noriko Uchida | Oita Athletics Association | 2:48:14 |
| 4 | Manami Takami | Nagato Central Pharmacy | 2:48:40 |
| 5 | Hotaka Shimizu | GRlab | 2:49:24 |
Official race information: Hofu Yomiuri Marathon official website
Nishiyama’s strengths: attacking style, adaptability and experience
Nishiyama is known for his attacking style and positive approach to racing. He does not let changes of pace in the lead pack unsettle him and is willing to make moves himself. In his marathon debut at Osaka in 2023 he set what was then the Japanese best time of 2 hours 6 minutes 45 seconds, showing how quickly he could adapt to the full distance.
During his days at Toyo University he twice won the first leg at the Hakone Ekiden, underlining his rich background in collegiate distance running. His career, which once seemed smooth and straightforward, was disrupted by a long struggle with an injury to his right gluteal region, but the way he has come back to this level speaks volumes about his determination and persistence.
Summary
The Hofu Yomiuri Marathon is an important stage that connects domestic races to the world. Now 27 years old, Nishiyama will look to use this performance as a springboard as he continues his challenge toward the Los Angeles Olympics. His aggressive, front foot running after returning from injury gives many fans both courage and high expectations.
