Japan's Kikuchi 31st in women's 1500m speed skating

Japan's Kikuchi 31st in women's 1500m speed skating

SOCHI, Russia - Ayaka Kikuchi of Japan looks at the scoreboard after competing in the Winter Olympics women's 1,500-meter speed skating event at the Alder Arena Skating Center in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 16, 2014. Kikuchi came in 31st place with a time of 2 minutes, 1.29 seconds.

Japan's Kikuchi 31st in women's 1500m speed skating

Japan's Kikuchi 31st in women's 1500m speed skating

SOCHI, Russia - Ayaka Kikuchi of Japan competes in the Winter Olympics women's 1,500-meter speed skating event at the Alder Arena Skating Center in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 16, 2014. Kikuchi came in 31st place with a time of 2 minutes, 1.29 seconds.

Japan's Kikuchi 31st in women's 1500m speed skating

Japan's Kikuchi 31st in women's 1500m speed skating

SOCHI, Russia - Ayaka Kikuchi of Japan finishes her run in the Winter Olympics women's 1,500-meter speed skating event at the Alder Arena Skating Center in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 16, 2014. Kikuchi came in 31st place with a time of 2 minutes, 1.29 seconds.

Japan's Kikuchi 31st in women's 1500m speed skating

Japan's Kikuchi 31st in women's 1500m speed skating

SOCHI, Russia - Ayaka Kikuchi of Japan skates during the Winter Olympics women's 1,500-meter speed skating event at the Alder Arena Skating Center in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 16, 2014. Kikuchi came in 31st place with a time of 2 minutes, 1.29 seconds.

Olympic champ Takahashi sets record in Ome road race

Olympic champ Takahashi sets record in Ome road race

TOKYO, Japan - Olympic marathon champion Naoko Takahashi breaks another record Feb. 18, when she set a new Japanese best in the women's 30-kilometer road race at the annual Ome ''marathon'' races in western Tokyo. Takahashi clocked 1 hour, 41 minutes, 57 seconds in her second official race since setting an Olympic record at the Sydney Games last September as she negotiated a field of some 15,000 ''fun'' runners. Takahashi shaved 1.29 minutes off the previous national 30-km mark, set by Eriko Asai in 1991.

Olympic champ Takahashi sets record in Ome road race

Olympic champ Takahashi sets record in Ome road race

TOKYO, Japan - Olympic marathon champion Naoko Takahashi breaks another record Feb. 18, when she set a new Japanese best in the women's 30-kilometer road race at the annual Ome ''marathon'' races in western Tokyo. Takahashi clocked 1 hour, 41 minutes, 57 seconds in her second official race since setting an Olympic record at the Sydney Games last September as she negotiated a field of some 15,000 ''fun'' runners. Takahashi shaved 1.29 minutes off the previous national 30-km mark, set by Eriko Asai in 1991.