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Toyota Shattai to Eliminate Women's Team

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/090806/spg0908062034005-n1.htm
http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/general/track/news/20090807k0000m050038000c.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner

The Toyota Shattai company, sponsors of top distance women Hiromi and Takami Ominami, announced Aug. 6 that it intends to disband its women's running team effective Aug. 7. The company will, however, continue to sponsor the Ominami twins and their coach Masahiko Takahashi.

The Ominami twins joined Toyota Shatai in April, 2005 together with Takahashi after their previous sponsor UFJ Bank disbanded its team. Both sisters are past winners of the Rotterdam Marathon, Hiromi having won in 2007 and Takami in 2002. Hiromi Ominami ran the 10000 m at the 2005 World Championships and won a bronze medal in the 10000 m at the 2006 Asian Games. Takami Ominami ran the marathon at the 2001 and 2003 World Championships and won the 2003 Nagoya International Women's Marathon.

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