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Established 1961 13 Sports Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Japan hails school clerk who won Boston Marathon ‘You can compete at world level even if you have a job like I do’ TOKYO: Japan yesterday hailed local said he had been in touch-to ask about an Kawauchi’s low-key approach to his run- school clerk Yuki Kawauchi, the surprise extra day off. ning. His training is done outside working winner of the Boston Marathon, who called hours, and he competes in races on week- work after his victory to ask for an extra ‘THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE’ ends or on holiday. day off to celebrate. When Kawauchi Apparently not expecting his win, “Generally he has kept his work and ploughed across the finish line on Monday, Kawauchi had planned to fly back to Japan marathon separate. We support him, like despite the coldest start in 30 years and the morning after the race and start work- we support others, by covering his work steady rain, he became the first Japanese ing from today evening. “He called to ask while he is gone,” Mitsui said. Marathons runner to win the race since 1987. for an extra day off because he has to are hugely popular in Japan, and Kawauchi In a poetic twist of fate, that was the attend functions there,” school official is well known for juggling his day job with year Kawauchi was born. He finished his running passion. the punishing 26.2 mile (42.1 km) course “I want to show that you can compete with a time of 2hrs 15min 58sec. The at the world level even if you have a job humble bureaucrat, who has no coach like I do,” he has said of maintaining the and no sponsor and trains on his free balance. After his win Monday, a tearful time, has been hailed across Japan for Kawauchi declared: “This is the greatest the shock triumph. “It is a tremendous The greatest day of my life.” achievement to win Boston, which is one “There was no one who thought I of the highest quality races in the day of my life would be the winner. I was able to prove world,” Toshihiko Seko, the Japanese that marathon is a sport in which you runner who won the race in 1987 and cannot tell what happens until the fin- 1981, told national broadcaster NHK. ish.” But while the Boston victory might “In the horrible conditions that every- be the biggest of his career, but it is far BOSTON: Yuki Kawauchi of Japan celebrates after crossing the finish line as the win- one hates, Kawauchi managed to main- from his only marathon win. ner of the 2018 and 122nd Boston Marathon for Elite Men’s race with a time of tain the toughest spirit, more than anyone Yasuhiro Mitsui told AFP. “The principal In fact, the 31-year-old has racked up 2:15:58. in Boston, Massachusetts. — AFP else,” he said. In a country that values told him ‘Congratulations, you have done five consecutive marathon wins with his modesty and hard work, Kawauchi’s quiet very well’,” Mitsui said, adding that the latest victory, including races in Japan, the dedication has garnered widespread admi- holiday extension had been granted. No US, and Taiwan. Last month, he was marathons run in under two hours and 20 long, with plans to run a half marathon this ration. At the Kuki High School in Saitama celebrations were being planned at the recognised by the Guinness World minutes — 78 in all. weekend in the Japanese city of Gifu, he region, where Kawauchi works, officials school, Mitsui said, in keeping with Records for the highest number of And he won’t be resting on his laurels told Japanese media. — AFP Johnny Sexton but Ulster chief executive Yankees romp to Paddy Jackson’s Shane Logan said he did not believe Jackson would add to the 25 caps he had won. Olding has four caps. a 12-1 victory Test career “The position is joint. It’s a joint Irish and Ulster rugby position... The state- over Marlins over: Ulster ment is clear and it is not something that we are contemplating,” Logan told the rugby chief BBC when asked about the pair’s NEW YORK: Luis Severino fired six score- chances of either playing for the less innings of one-hit ball, and Didi province or Ireland again. Gregorius homered twice for the second time LONDON: Fly-half Paddy Jackson will Logan, who refused to reveal whether this year as the New York Yankees beat the never play for Ireland again after he and there had been a financial settlement Miami Marlins 12-1 at Yankee Stadium on team-mate Stuart Olding were sacked agreed with the players, denied the Monday. Severino (3-1) struck out eight and despite being cleared in a rape trial, the IRFU had caved in to pressure on social walked one. Aaron Judge and Gregorius Ulster chief executive said. media or that the decision was motivat- slugged their fourth homers as New York Jackson, 26, and centre Olding, 25, ed by money. “No sponsor including opened an 11-0 lead in the first five innings. had their contracts with Ulster and the Bank of Ireland drove the decision,” he Gregorius added a solo shot in the seventh. Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) ter- told Britain’s Press Association. “We Gary Sanchez had three hits and three RBIs. minated after an internal review follow- have taken on board everybody’s views Judge, Gregorius, Miguel Andujar, Brett ing their acquittal. The players were right across society, right across our Gardner and Tyler Austin had two hits each found not guilty of raping the same supporter group, our sponsor group, our for the Yankees. woman in June 2016. Jackson was also players, clubs, volunteers, we are part of unanimously acquitted of sexual assault. society. BRAVES 2, PHILLIES 1 The high-profile trial, which ran for nine “But at the end of the day, having Julio Teheran struck out nine batters in six NEW YORK: Junichi Tazawa #25 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch in the eighth weeks at Belfast Crown Court, brought looked at all those things, the decision strong innings, and Atlanta ended visiting inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday in the Bronx bor- to light a number of sexually explicit and was based on alignment with what it is Philadelphia’s six-game winning streak. ough of New York City. — AFP offensive text exchanges that sparked a we stand for, in particular the value of Teheran (1-1) allowed one run on five hits, one wave of protest on social media and on respect. “The players themselves admit- of them a solo homer from Odubel Herrera in the streets. ted in their own statements that they the first inning. The right-hander walked in seven of their past eight games, hitting a against the Mets, who led 6-1 with staff ace Before the trial Jackson had been the were way short of what was expected of three. Atlanta tied the game in the bottom of total of 14 in that stretch. Jacob deGrom still on the mound to begin the stand-in for Irish number one fly-half them.” —AFP the first inning when Freddie Freeman eighth inning. However, deGrom was lifted grounded into a double play that scored RAYS 8, RANGERS 4 with two on and one out, and four relievers Ender Inciarte. The Braves got their other run Wilson Ramos had three hits and two could not stop the barrage. Washington’s in the fourth when Ozzie Albies scored on RBIs, and Mallex Smith had a career-high- Howie Kendrick homered leading off the Kurt Suzuki’s sacrifice fly. tying four hits to back the excellent pitching ninth. Bryce Harper accounted for the of Blake Snell as host Tampa Bay Rays rolled Nationals’ only run in the first seven innings ROCKIES 6, PIRATES 2 past Texas. Snell (2-1) hurled 6 1/3 innings, with a broken-bat home run in the first. German Marquez took a no-hitter into the allowing just one run on five hits with nine fifth inning, and Trevor Story and Charlie strikeouts and no walks, to help the Rays snap REDS 10, BREWERS 4 India’s Kom Blackmon continued Colorado’s home run a four-game losing streak. Snell got plenty of Luis Castillo pitched 6 2/3 innings and parade as the visiting Rockies downed early offensive help as Tampa Bay scored all added a run-scoring single as Cincinnati Pittsburgh. Marquez (1-1) allowed two runs eight of its runs in the first four innings off broke an eight-game losing streak with a win dreams of on two hits in six innings with two walks and Texas starter Martin Perez (1-2). at Milwaukee. Castillo (1-2) allowed four runs six strikeouts. Chris Rusin allowed two hits in and five hits and three walks while striking Olympic gold two scoreless innings of relief, and Adam NATIONALS 8, METS 6 out eight. Leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton singled Ottavino pitched a clean ninth with two Michael A. Taylor worked a bases-loaded twice and drove in three runs for the Reds. strikeouts. Story hit a three-run homer in the walk to cap a six-run eighth inning by Adam Duvall had three hits, including two NEW DELHI: India’s best-ever box- fourth and Blackmon added a solo shot in the Washington, which stunned host New York. doubles, while Joey Votto and rookie outfield- er Mary Kom said yesterday she has eighth for the Rockies, who lead the National The Nationals appeared headed for their er Phillip Ervin had two hits apiece for no plans to retire and is determined League with 26 homers.