Mizuki Noguchi, the women's marathon gold medalist at last year's Athens Olympics, was named the first ever Japanese winner of the Abebe Bikila Award by the New York Road Runners on Thursday. Noguchi, who won the Berlin Marathon in a Japanese record time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, 12 seconds last month, will be presented with the trophy before the International Friendship Run at the United Nations on Nov. 5, one day prior to the New York City Marathon. "This award befits Noguchi's performances," said Mary Wittenberg, president of the NYRR, organizers of the New York City Marathon. "Noguchi was named for her individual achievements while the past achievements of Japanese athletes at the Olympics and world championships were also taken into consideration," added Wittenberg.
