Koji Shimizu, who finished 21st in the men's marathon at last summer's World Championships, and Takayuki Nishida are among the 11 Japanese invitees who will compete in the upcoming Tokyo International Marathon, organizers said Thursday.
Shimizu and Nishida, who took part in the 2001 worlds, will also be joined by Japan-based Kenyans Eric Wainaina and Daniel Jenga in the Feb. 8 race which starts and ends at National Stadium in Tokyo. Jenga's personal best is 2 hours, 6 minutes, 16 seconds.
Five runners, including Frenchman Driss El Himer who clocked 2:06.48 in the 2003 Paris Marathon, will take part as overseas invitees in the race, which doubles as an Olympic qualifier.