Yuya Yoshida took a fast first step toward qualifying for next year's world athletics championships by winning the Fukuoka International Marathon in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 16 seconds, Japan's third-fastest time.The 27-year-old beat the standard qualifying time of 2:06:30 for the 2025 worlds in Tokyo. Yoshida stayed with the leading group until seizing the sole lead at the 32-kilometer mark."I ran this race in the belief that I have the strength to break the Japan record, and I ran knowing I had a little extra left if I needed it," Yoshida said."Although I didn't reach the national record, I be…READ FULL ARTICLE
