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Cheers on Runners in Fukuoka Marathon 2018

2018.11.14
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The Fukuoka Marathon 2018 was held on Sunday, November 11, 2018 along a 42.195 km course from downtown Fukuoka City to the city of Itoshima. A cheering squad and the cheerleading team Etoiles joined other students, staff, and faculty members from Kyushu University in cheering on the runners at the side of the road on Ito Campus.

Held for the fifth time this year, the Fukuoka Marathon welcomed around 14,000 runners chosen by ballot from among applications from both within and outside the prefecture, and was run along a course along the coast from central Fukuoka to the verdant surroundings of the Itoshima Peninsula.

Located about 20km along the course, Ito Campus marked the halfway point. Spectators welcomed and waved off the participating runners as they passed through Ito Campus. A large number of the Japanese and international students living around Ito Campus turned out to line the streets, shouting warm words of encouragement to the runners.
Many of the runners were visibly cheered by the performances by the cheerleading team and the shouts of encouragement from students, staff and faculty members. Feedback from the runners included such comments as, “The warm reception I received helped to spur me on to compete harder.”

A cheering squad and cheerleading team Etoiles

Heading toward the halfway mark

Runners passing Ito Campus

Runners wave in acknowledgement of the encouragement

Kyushu University’s faculty gives warm words of encouragement to runners