Japanese marathon trio run together early in race

Japanese marathon trio run together early in race

SYDNEY, Australia - The Japanese women's marathon trio, billed as the strongest ever sent to the Olympics, run together early in the race at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney on Sept. 24. Left to right, eventual gold medalist Naoko Takahashi, Ari Ichihashi and Eri Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi finished the race in seventh place, Ichihashi 15th.

Japanese marathon trio meets press, Olympic mascots

Japanese marathon trio meets press, Olympic mascots

SYDNEY, Australia - Japan's strongest-ever collection of runners for the women's marathon pose with the Sydney Olympic mascots after a news conference Sept. 22. Seen L to R are Ari Ichihashi, Naoko Takahashi and Eri Yamaguchi. The women's marathon in the Games is set to begin at 9 a.m. (7 a.m. in Japan) on Sept. 24.

Japanese marathon hope Yamaguchi arrives in Sydney

Japanese marathon hope Yamaguchi arrives in Sydney

SYDNEY, Australia - Eri Yamaguchi, one of three Japanese hopefuls in Sydney Olympic women's marathon, puts her autograph on an Australia-shaped board held by fans on arrival at the Sydney Airport on Sept. 5.

Japanese marathon runners off for Sydney

Japanese marathon runners off for Sydney

NARITA, Japan - Japanese Olympic marathon runners wave hands as they leave for Sydney from Narita airport April 26 to run in the Host City Marathon scheduled for April 30. (2nd from L to R) Eri Yamaguchi, Shinji Kawashima, Nobuyuki Sato, Takayuki Inubushi and Kayoko Obata.

Yamaguchi shows off gold medal at award ceremony

Yamaguchi shows off gold medal at award ceremony

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Eri Yamaguchi (L) shows off her gold medal at the award ceremony for the Tokyo International Women's Marathon on Nov. 21, held at a Tokyo hotel later in the day, after beating 1996 Atlanta gold medalist Fatuma Roba (C) of Ethiopia, who finished 2nd, and 3rd place Valentina Yegolova (R) of Russia.

Yamaguchi wins Tokyo Int'l Women's Marathon

Yamaguchi wins Tokyo Int'l Women's Marathon

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Eri Yamaguchi wins the Tokyo International Women's Marathon on Nov. 21, beating 1996 Atlanta gold medalist Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia. Yamaguchi's time was 2 hours, 22 minutes, 12 seconds. Roba finished second in 2:27:05.

Japanese marathon trio meets press, Olympic mascots

Japanese marathon trio meets press, Olympic mascots

SYDNEY, Australia - Japan's strongest-ever collection of runners for the women's marathon pose with the Sydney Olympic mascots after a news conference Sept. 22. Seen L to R are Ari Ichihashi, Naoko Takahashi and Eri Yamaguchi. The women's marathon in the Games is set to begin at 9 a.m. (7 a.m. in Japan) on Sept. 24.

Four more named to Japan's six-member Olympic marathon squad

Four more named to Japan's six-member Olympic marathon squad

TOKYO, Japan - Naoko Takahashi (bottom R) and Takayuki Inubushi (top C) were named March 13 to Japan's six-member Olympic marathon squad along with Shinji Kawashima (top R) and Eri Yamaguchi (bottom C). The four will join Nobuyuki Sato (top L) and Ari Ichihashi (bottom L) who had been given tentative approval for the Olympic team last summer after winning medals in the athletics world championships in Spain.

Yamaguchi wins Tokyo Int'l Women's Marathon

Yamaguchi wins Tokyo Int'l Women's Marathon

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Eri Yamaguchi wins the Tokyo International Women's Marathon on Nov. 21, beating 1996 Atlanta gold medalist Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia. Yamaguchi's time was 2 hours, 22 minutes, 12 seconds. Roba finished second in 2:27:05.

Yamaguchi shows off gold medal at award ceremony

Yamaguchi shows off gold medal at award ceremony

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Eri Yamaguchi (L) shows off her gold medal at the award ceremony for the Tokyo International Women's Marathon on Nov. 21, held at a Tokyo hotel later in the day, after beating 1996 Atlanta gold medalist Fatuma Roba (C) of Ethiopia, who finished 2nd, and 3rd place Valentina Yegolova (R) of Russia.