complete report coming shortly
2014 Nagoya Women's Marathon
Nagoya, Aichi, 3/9/14
click here for complete results
1. Mariya Konovalova (Russia) - 2:23:43
2. Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) - 2:24:07
3. Ryoko Kizaki (Team Daihatsu) - 2:25:26
4. Eri Hayakawa (Team Toto) - 2:25:31 - PB
5. Tomomi Tanaka (Team Daiichi Seimei) - 2:26:05 - debut
6. Agnes Kiprop (Kenya) - 2:27:51
7. Misato Horie (Team Noritz) - 2:27:57 - PB
8. Asami Kato (Team Panasonic) - 2:29:08 - PB
9. Ashete Dido (Ethiopia) - 2:29:21
10. Agnes Barsosio (Kenya) - 2:30:37
11. Yuka Hakoyama (Team Wacoal) - 2:30:48 - debut
12. Jessica Trengove (Australia) - 2:31:23
13. Helena Kirop (Kenya) - 2:31:34
14. Yuko Mizuguchi (Team Denso) - 2:31:39 - debut
15. Chika Horie (Team Univ. Ent.) - 2:32:58
16. Hiroko Shoi (Team Nihon ChemiCon) - 2:33:06 - PB
17. Mayumi Fujita (Team Juhachi Ginko) - 2:33:13
18. Kikuyo Tsuzaki (Team Noritz) - 2:33:17 - PB
19. Kana Orino (Team Hokuren) - 2:33:51 - debut
20. Ayumi Sakaida (Team Daihatsu) - 2:34:12 - PB
21. Miranda Boonstra (Netherlands) - 2:34:41
22. Sayaka Kurogi (Team Kyudenko) - 2:35:48 - debut
23. Aki Odagiri (Team Tenmaya) - 2:35:52 - PB
24. Sakiko Matsumi (Team Daiichi Seimei) - 2:36:45 - debut
25. Hiroko Miyauchi (Team Kyocera) - 2:36:51
(c) 2014 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Saturday, March 8, 2014
'Can Kizaki Retain Her Nagoya Women's Marathon Title?'
http://www.iaaf.org/news/preview/ryoko-kizaki-2014-nagoya-womens-marathon-iaaf
The last of Japan's major winter/early spring marathons, the Nagoya Women's Marathon kicks off at 9:00 a.m. Japan time on Sunday, Mar. 9. JRN will cover the race live on Twitter @JRNLive. Overseas viewers should be able to watch Fuji TV's live broadcast via Keyhole TV, for which a premium key is recommended for reliable quality. Unofficial live streaming may be available on any of a number of overseas streaming sites.
Also newsworthy is Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) in the mass-participation Nagoya Half Marathon that accompanies the women-only marathon. Kawauchi entered the half through the regular online lottery and was among those who won places in the field.
The last of Japan's major winter/early spring marathons, the Nagoya Women's Marathon kicks off at 9:00 a.m. Japan time on Sunday, Mar. 9. JRN will cover the race live on Twitter @JRNLive. Overseas viewers should be able to watch Fuji TV's live broadcast via Keyhole TV, for which a premium key is recommended for reliable quality. Unofficial live streaming may be available on any of a number of overseas streaming sites.
Also newsworthy is Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) in the mass-participation Nagoya Half Marathon that accompanies the women-only marathon. Kawauchi entered the half through the regular online lottery and was among those who won places in the field.
2014 Nagoya Women's Marathon
Nagoya, 3/9/14
1. Mariya Konovalova (Russia) - 2:22:46 (Chicago 2013)
2. Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) - 2:22:56 (Osaka Women's 2005)
11. Ryoko Kizaki (Team Daihatsu) - 2:23:34 (Nagoya Women's 2013)
3. Helena Kirop (Kenya) - 2:23:37 (Venice 2011)
115. Yumiko Hara (AASP RC) - 2:23:48 (Osaka Women's 2007)
115. Yumiko Hara (AASP RC) - 2:23:48 (Osaka Women's 2007)
4. Agnes Kiprop (Kenya) - 2:23:54 (Frankfurt 2011)
5. Agnes Barsosio (Kenya) - 2:24:03 (Daegu 2013)
6. Zivile Balciunaite (Lithuania) - 2:25:15 (Tokyo Women's 2005)
102. Eri Okubo (Miki House) - 2:26:08 (Tokyo 2012)
107. Chika Hori (Team Universal Entertainment) - 2:26:11 (Hokkaido 2002)
102. Eri Okubo (Miki House) - 2:26:08 (Tokyo 2012)
107. Chika Hori (Team Universal Entertainment) - 2:26:11 (Hokkaido 2002)
12. Eri Hayakawa (Team Toto) - 2:26:17 (Nagoya Women's 2013)
13. Yoko Miyauchi (Team Kyocera) - 2:26:23 (Nagoya Women's 2012)
7. Miranda Boonstra (Netherlands) - 2:27:32 (Rotterdam 2012)
8. Ashete Dido (Ethiopia) - 2:27:47 (Kosice 2013)
14. Mayumi Fujita (Team Juhachi Ginko) - 2:29:02 (Yokohama Women's 2012)
108. Chihiro Tanaka (Athlec RC) - 2:29:30 (Nagoya International 2002)
108. Chihiro Tanaka (Athlec RC) - 2:29:30 (Nagoya International 2002)
15. Asami Kato (Team Panasonic) - 2:30:26 (Nagoya Women's 2013)
16. Misato Horie (Team Noritz) - 2:30:52 (Nagoya Women's 2013)
9. Jessica Trengove (Australia) - 2:31:02 (Nagoya Women's 2012)
17. Korei Omata (Team Sekisui Kagaku) - 2:31:13 (Nagoya Women's 2012)
103. Hiroko Yoshitomi (First Dream AC) - 2:31:28 (Tokyo 2013)
106. Hiroko Miyauchi (Team Kyocera) - 2:32:20 (Yokohama Women's 2009)
104. Chizuru Ideta (Team Daihatsu) - 2:32:50 (Nagoya Women's 2013)
105. Hiroko Shoi (Team Nihon ChemiCon) - 2:33:21 (Tokyo 2013)
117. Ayumi Sakaida (Team Daihatsu) - 2:36:04 (Tokyo 2012)
109. Kikuyo Tsuzaki (Team Noritz) - 2:36:57 (Paris 2013)
110. Akane Mutazaki (Team Edion) - 2:37:14 (Nagoya Women's 2013)
111. Saki Tabata (Team Otsuka Seiyaku) - 2:37:40 (Tokyo 2013)
103. Hiroko Yoshitomi (First Dream AC) - 2:31:28 (Tokyo 2013)
106. Hiroko Miyauchi (Team Kyocera) - 2:32:20 (Yokohama Women's 2009)
104. Chizuru Ideta (Team Daihatsu) - 2:32:50 (Nagoya Women's 2013)
105. Hiroko Shoi (Team Nihon ChemiCon) - 2:33:21 (Tokyo 2013)
117. Ayumi Sakaida (Team Daihatsu) - 2:36:04 (Tokyo 2012)
109. Kikuyo Tsuzaki (Team Noritz) - 2:36:57 (Paris 2013)
110. Akane Mutazaki (Team Edion) - 2:37:14 (Nagoya Women's 2013)
111. Saki Tabata (Team Otsuka Seiyaku) - 2:37:40 (Tokyo 2013)
114. Aki Odagiri (Team Tenmaya) - 2:41:49 (Hokkaido 2013)
Debut
18. Tomomi Tanaka (Team Daiichi Seimei) - 1:09:24 (National Corporate Half 2014)
19. Sakiko Matsumi (Team Daiichi Seimei) - 1:10:10 (Marugame Half 2013)
20. Kumi Ogura (Team Toto) - 1:10:51 (Marugame Half 2013)
21. Yuka Hakoyama (Team Wacoal) - 1:11:29 (Marugame Half 2013)
22. Yuko Mizuguchi (Team Denso) - 1:13:27 (Matsue Women's Half 2008)
133. Risa Nakamura (Team Hitachi) - 1:14:43 (Marugame 2011)
Friday, March 7, 2014
Shizuoka to Again Host Mount Fuji University Women's Ekiden Championships
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/news/140307/szk14030702060000-n1.htm
translated by Brett Larner
At the Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly's regular meeting on Mar. 6, Governor Heita Kawakatsu confirmed that the Mount Fuji Women's Ekiden, first held last December, will be held again at the end of this year. The news came in response to a question from Assembly representative Sakae Endo (Jimin Kaikaku Kaigi Party, Fuji City).
The ekiden commemorates Mount Fuji's registration as a World Heritage Site and served as the National Women's Invitational Ekiden Championships, the first time that event has been staged in Shizuoka. At the first running twenty teams from across the country raced over a seven-stage, 43.4 km course in the foothills of Mount Fuji.
Governor Kawakatsu commented, "With 80,000 spectators having turned out to cheer along the course and impeccable race organization, we gave the event a very high evaluation. TV viewership ratings within Shizuoka were an excellent 14.3%, and more than 90% of local residents surveyed said that they would like to see the race held again." The governor said that for these reasons, on Jan. 24 the prefecture's Executive Committee approved plans for the second edition of the ekiden at the end of the calendar year. The exact date of the race is yet to be determined.
translated by Brett Larner
At the Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly's regular meeting on Mar. 6, Governor Heita Kawakatsu confirmed that the Mount Fuji Women's Ekiden, first held last December, will be held again at the end of this year. The news came in response to a question from Assembly representative Sakae Endo (Jimin Kaikaku Kaigi Party, Fuji City).
The ekiden commemorates Mount Fuji's registration as a World Heritage Site and served as the National Women's Invitational Ekiden Championships, the first time that event has been staged in Shizuoka. At the first running twenty teams from across the country raced over a seven-stage, 43.4 km course in the foothills of Mount Fuji.
Governor Kawakatsu commented, "With 80,000 spectators having turned out to cheer along the course and impeccable race organization, we gave the event a very high evaluation. TV viewership ratings within Shizuoka were an excellent 14.3%, and more than 90% of local residents surveyed said that they would like to see the race held again." The governor said that for these reasons, on Jan. 24 the prefecture's Executive Committee approved plans for the second edition of the ekiden at the end of the calendar year. The exact date of the race is yet to be determined.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
With Regard to the Kanto Region University Student United Team
http://ameblo.jp/senbatuyk/entry-11786606506.html
http://ameblo.jp/senbatuyk/entry-11786640592.html
http://ameblo.jp/senbatuyk/entry-11786683500.html
translated and edited by Brett Larner
Note: These blog posts were written by an athlete who ran on the Hakone Ekiden's Kanto Region University Select Team twice before going on to become one of Japan's most prominent distance runners and all-time great marathoners. He semi-anonymously runs a blog called "The Former Hakone Ekiden Kanto Region University Select Team Member Blog" dedicated to preserving the Select Team from elimination by the powers that be. These posts are in response to the KGRR's decision to reintroduce the Select Team to Hakone in 2015 under a different name without counting its results.
According to the news on the net, the "Kanto Regional University Select Team" is going to be resurrected next year with its name changed to "Kanto Region University Student United Team." In February at a party in Tokyo for people connected with the Hakone Ekiden some executives from the KGRR were saying, "The Select Team, you know, it's just a collection of fast runners from universities across Kanto, so the name should change," but I didn't think they were really going to change it. Up to now it has always been called "Select," but now we're going to have to call it a "Union?"
According to the KGRR's proposal the Select Team is going to end up being called "Kanto United," but it's not just the name. Lots of other changes are being made as well.
The other two points look they're going to be plusses for athletes from weak small and mid-sized schools like my alma mater, but they mean that senior aces from major schools, like Hosei University's Hidehito Takamine at the 85th Hakone and Tokai University's Tsubasa Hayakawa at the 89th running, have a significantly lower chance of being picked for the team. It may be true that this new system might help make it easier for athletes from small, weak schools get picked for the team, but I feel that this system is going to lower the motivation of mid-level and upper-echelon schools.
Additionally, thanks to flaws in the system athletes like Shoin University's Aritaka Kajiwara who ran on the Select Team all four years are being eliminated by the rule about not being picked more than twice. As a result of his experience on the Select Team Kajiwara has had tremendous success as a speed runner, one of the top finishers on the track at last year's National Championships, and I'm very sorry to see the opportunity for athletes like him to develop again being taken away. At the Hakone Ekiden party last month the KGRR bigwigs said, "We intend to put a much better system in place for the Select Team." I can see now that when they said "a much better system" they meant "a system that will prevent athletes like Kajiwara from coming along."
I myself carry with me the memory of the joy of my teammates and I lifting our anchor runner onto our shoulders together in Otemachi when we got into the seeded top ten, and to see the team being returned to participation-only status, to know that scenes of joy like that are not going to be replayed, I think it is incredibly sad that these kinds of organizational changes have been made.
What direction is the United-Team-formerly-known-as-Kanto-Region-Select-Team going to take? Last year when the vote took place on whether to keep the Kanto Region Select Team (every year) or abolish it (only have it once every five years), they listened to input from powerhouse schools, mid-level schools, and small, weak programs, and the decision was made to keep it. But with the changes made this year, what happens a few years down the road when the Third Great Abolition Crisis happens? I worry about what the future holds for the team.
I've written a variety of things here, but except for item three,
In those days when the Select Team was participation-only there wasn't much discussion about it being abolished, but I have the impression that once its results began to count in the team scoring (especially at the 84th Hakone when the Select Team finished 4th) and the one-school-one-runner rule was broken and one-school-two-runners became the norm the calls for it to be abolished became louder and louder, so now that we are "getting back to our roots" maybe that kind of talk will die down again.
To sum up these changes in one phrase, I think you could say that we've gone back to our roots but lost the added value of what we had gained. Whatever else happens, I hope that the United-Team-formerly-known-as-Kanto-Region-Select-Team still serves as a motivation for athletes to grow and progress.
http://ameblo.jp/senbatuyk/entry-11786640592.html
http://ameblo.jp/senbatuyk/entry-11786683500.html
translated and edited by Brett Larner
Note: These blog posts were written by an athlete who ran on the Hakone Ekiden's Kanto Region University Select Team twice before going on to become one of Japan's most prominent distance runners and all-time great marathoners. He semi-anonymously runs a blog called "The Former Hakone Ekiden Kanto Region University Select Team Member Blog" dedicated to preserving the Select Team from elimination by the powers that be. These posts are in response to the KGRR's decision to reintroduce the Select Team to Hakone in 2015 under a different name without counting its results.
According to the news on the net, the "Kanto Regional University Select Team" is going to be resurrected next year with its name changed to "Kanto Region University Student United Team." In February at a party in Tokyo for people connected with the Hakone Ekiden some executives from the KGRR were saying, "The Select Team, you know, it's just a collection of fast runners from universities across Kanto, so the name should change," but I didn't think they were really going to change it. Up to now it has always been called "Select," but now we're going to have to call it a "Union?"
According to the KGRR's proposal the Select Team is going to end up being called "Kanto United," but it's not just the name. Lots of other changes are being made as well.
- Participation only without team or individual results counting
- One school, one runner
- Only runners who have run Hakone two or less times are elligible
The other two points look they're going to be plusses for athletes from weak small and mid-sized schools like my alma mater, but they mean that senior aces from major schools, like Hosei University's Hidehito Takamine at the 85th Hakone and Tokai University's Tsubasa Hayakawa at the 89th running, have a significantly lower chance of being picked for the team. It may be true that this new system might help make it easier for athletes from small, weak schools get picked for the team, but I feel that this system is going to lower the motivation of mid-level and upper-echelon schools.
Additionally, thanks to flaws in the system athletes like Shoin University's Aritaka Kajiwara who ran on the Select Team all four years are being eliminated by the rule about not being picked more than twice. As a result of his experience on the Select Team Kajiwara has had tremendous success as a speed runner, one of the top finishers on the track at last year's National Championships, and I'm very sorry to see the opportunity for athletes like him to develop again being taken away. At the Hakone Ekiden party last month the KGRR bigwigs said, "We intend to put a much better system in place for the Select Team." I can see now that when they said "a much better system" they meant "a system that will prevent athletes like Kajiwara from coming along."
I myself carry with me the memory of the joy of my teammates and I lifting our anchor runner onto our shoulders together in Otemachi when we got into the seeded top ten, and to see the team being returned to participation-only status, to know that scenes of joy like that are not going to be replayed, I think it is incredibly sad that these kinds of organizational changes have been made.
What direction is the United-Team-formerly-known-as-Kanto-Region-Select-Team going to take? Last year when the vote took place on whether to keep the Kanto Region Select Team (every year) or abolish it (only have it once every five years), they listened to input from powerhouse schools, mid-level schools, and small, weak programs, and the decision was made to keep it. But with the changes made this year, what happens a few years down the road when the Third Great Abolition Crisis happens? I worry about what the future holds for the team.
I've written a variety of things here, but except for item three,
- Only runners who have run Hakone two or less times are eligible
In those days when the Select Team was participation-only there wasn't much discussion about it being abolished, but I have the impression that once its results began to count in the team scoring (especially at the 84th Hakone when the Select Team finished 4th) and the one-school-one-runner rule was broken and one-school-two-runners became the norm the calls for it to be abolished became louder and louder, so now that we are "getting back to our roots" maybe that kind of talk will die down again.
To sum up these changes in one phrase, I think you could say that we've gone back to our roots but lost the added value of what we had gained. Whatever else happens, I hope that the United-Team-formerly-known-as-Kanto-Region-Select-Team still serves as a motivation for athletes to grow and progress.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Hakone Ekiden Kanto Select Team to Return Without Results Being Counted
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/news/20140303-OYT1T01115.htm
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/03/04/kiji/K20140304007705930.html
http://www.kgrr.org/event/2013/kgrr/90-hakone/91gakuseirengouteam_kirokunotoriatsukai.pdf
translated and edited by Brett Larner
On Mar. 4 the Inter-University Athletic Union of Kanto [KGRR] announced rule changes for the 91st Hakone Ekiden on Jan. 2-3, 2015 regarding the Kanto Region University Select Team, made up of top-placing individuals at October's Yosenkai 20 km Road Race from universities that do not qualify for Hakone as teams. The Select Team was eliminated for this year's 90th Hakone Ekiden but will return next year with its name changed to the Kanto Region University Student United Team. Along with the name, changes include:
Translator's note: Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't), a member of the 2009 Hakone Ekiden Kanto Region University Select Team that included four of Japan's other current best young distance runners, Aritaka Kajiwara (Team Press Kogyo), Norimasa Nishina (Team Fujitsu), Hiroaki Sano (Team Honda) and Hidehito Takamine (Team Fujitsu), has written a rebuttal of the KGRR's decision on his blog dedicated to saving the Select Team. JRN will publish a translation tomorrow. And happy 27th birthday to Kawauchi.
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/03/04/kiji/K20140304007705930.html
http://www.kgrr.org/event/2013/kgrr/90-hakone/91gakuseirengouteam_kirokunotoriatsukai.pdf
translated and edited by Brett Larner
On Mar. 4 the Inter-University Athletic Union of Kanto [KGRR] announced rule changes for the 91st Hakone Ekiden on Jan. 2-3, 2015 regarding the Kanto Region University Select Team, made up of top-placing individuals at October's Yosenkai 20 km Road Race from universities that do not qualify for Hakone as teams. The Select Team was eliminated for this year's 90th Hakone Ekiden but will return next year with its name changed to the Kanto Region University Student United Team. Along with the name, changes include:
- only one runner is allowed from any single university
- people may run on the team a maximum of twice
- the team's results will not count in the official Hakone Ekiden team standings
- individual placings will not count in the official individual stage standings
- individual times will be recorded and are eligible for stage records
Translator's note: Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't), a member of the 2009 Hakone Ekiden Kanto Region University Select Team that included four of Japan's other current best young distance runners, Aritaka Kajiwara (Team Press Kogyo), Norimasa Nishina (Team Fujitsu), Hiroaki Sano (Team Honda) and Hidehito Takamine (Team Fujitsu), has written a rebuttal of the KGRR's decision on his blog dedicated to saving the Select Team. JRN will publish a translation tomorrow. And happy 27th birthday to Kawauchi.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
'2014 NYC Half to Feature Top American and International Fields for March 16 Race'
http://www.nyrr.org/newsroom/press-release/2014-nyc-half-to-feature-molly-huddle-and-geoffrey-mutai-and-international-fields-for-march-16-race
2013 Ageo City Half Marathon winner Takashi Ichida (1:02:36, Daito Bunka University) and four-time National University Ekiden stage winner Ikuto Yufu (1:02:46, Komazawa University) are running the NYC Half Marathon with support from JRN after placing in Ageo last November.
8th NYC Half Marathon Elite Field
New York, NY, 3/16/14
Men
Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) - 58:58 (Ras Al Khaimah 2013)
Mo Farah (U.K.) - 1:00:10a (Great North Run 2013)
Stephen Sambu (Kenya) - 1:00:41 (Boston 2013)
Meb Keflezighi (U.S.A.) - 1:01:00 (Rock 'n' Roll San Jose 2009)
Wesley Korir (Kenya) - 1:01:19 (New York 2012)
Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico) - 1:01:21 (New York 2013)
Kevin Chelimo (Kenya) - 1:01:21 (New York 2012)
Luke Puskedra (U.S.A.) - 1:01:36 (Houston 2012)
Matt Tegenkamp (U.S.A.) - 58:30 (New Haven 20 km 2012)
Jason Hartmann (U.S.A.) - 1:01:51 (New York 2013)
Brett Gotcher (U.S.A.) - 1:02:09 (Houston 2009)
Takashi Ichida (Japan/Daito Bunka Univ.) - 1:02:36 (Ageo 2013)
Reid Coolsaet (Canada) - 1:02:42a (New York 2011)
Ikuto Yufu (Japan/Komazawa Univ.) - 1:02:46 (Marugame 2013)
Ian Burrell (U.S.A.) - 1:02:51a (U.S.A. Championships 2012)
Jeffrey Eggleston (U.S.A.) - 1:03:00 (Marugame 2014)
Eric Gillis (Canada) - 1:03:34 (Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach 2011)
Arne Gabius (Germany) - debut
Jake Riley (U.S.A.) - debut
Women
Hilda Kibet (Netherlands) - 1:07:59a (Rome-Ostia 2013)
Caroline Kilel (Kenya) - 1:08:16 (World Half Marathon 2009)
Jessica Augusto (Portugal) - 1:09:08a (Great North Run 2009)
Diane Nukuri-Johnson (Burundi) - 1:09:12 (New York 2013)
Lisa Stublic (Croatia) - 1:09:18 (New York 2013)
Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) - 1:09:53 (Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia 2011)
Adriana Nelson (U.S.A.) - 1:09:59 (New York 2013)
Gemma Steel (U.K.) - 1:10:19 (Great Birmingham Run 2013)
Yolanda Caballero (Colombia) - 1:10:30 (New York 2013)
Desi Linden (U.S.A.) - 1:10:34 (Naples 2011)
Krista DuChene (Canada) - 1:10:52 (Scotiabank Vancouver 2013)
Sarah Cummings (U.S.A.) - 1:14:06 (Houston 2014)
Caroline LeFrak (U.S.A.) - 1:14:23 (Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia 2011)
Lauren Jimison (U.S.A.) - 1:14:29 (Sacramento 2013)
Esther Erb (U.S.A.) - 1:14:35a (U.S.A. Championships 2013)
Liz Costello (U.S.A.) - 1:14:42 (Brooklyn 2013)
Marci Gage (U.S.A.) - 1:14:49 (U.S.A. Championships 2013
Jane Vongvorachoti (Thailand) - 1:15:24 (Houston 2014)
Sally Kipyego (Kenya) - debut
Molly Huddle (U.S.A.) - debut
2013 Ageo City Half Marathon winner Takashi Ichida (1:02:36, Daito Bunka University) and four-time National University Ekiden stage winner Ikuto Yufu (1:02:46, Komazawa University) are running the NYC Half Marathon with support from JRN after placing in Ageo last November.
8th NYC Half Marathon Elite Field
New York, NY, 3/16/14
Men
Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) - 58:58 (Ras Al Khaimah 2013)
Mo Farah (U.K.) - 1:00:10a (Great North Run 2013)
Stephen Sambu (Kenya) - 1:00:41 (Boston 2013)
Meb Keflezighi (U.S.A.) - 1:01:00 (Rock 'n' Roll San Jose 2009)
Wesley Korir (Kenya) - 1:01:19 (New York 2012)
Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico) - 1:01:21 (New York 2013)
Kevin Chelimo (Kenya) - 1:01:21 (New York 2012)
Luke Puskedra (U.S.A.) - 1:01:36 (Houston 2012)
Matt Tegenkamp (U.S.A.) - 58:30 (New Haven 20 km 2012)
Jason Hartmann (U.S.A.) - 1:01:51 (New York 2013)
Brett Gotcher (U.S.A.) - 1:02:09 (Houston 2009)
Takashi Ichida (Japan/Daito Bunka Univ.) - 1:02:36 (Ageo 2013)
Reid Coolsaet (Canada) - 1:02:42a (New York 2011)
Ikuto Yufu (Japan/Komazawa Univ.) - 1:02:46 (Marugame 2013)
Ian Burrell (U.S.A.) - 1:02:51a (U.S.A. Championships 2012)
Jeffrey Eggleston (U.S.A.) - 1:03:00 (Marugame 2014)
Eric Gillis (Canada) - 1:03:34 (Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach 2011)
Arne Gabius (Germany) - debut
Jake Riley (U.S.A.) - debut
Women
Hilda Kibet (Netherlands) - 1:07:59a (Rome-Ostia 2013)
Caroline Kilel (Kenya) - 1:08:16 (World Half Marathon 2009)
Jessica Augusto (Portugal) - 1:09:08a (Great North Run 2009)
Diane Nukuri-Johnson (Burundi) - 1:09:12 (New York 2013)
Lisa Stublic (Croatia) - 1:09:18 (New York 2013)
Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) - 1:09:53 (Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia 2011)
Adriana Nelson (U.S.A.) - 1:09:59 (New York 2013)
Gemma Steel (U.K.) - 1:10:19 (Great Birmingham Run 2013)
Yolanda Caballero (Colombia) - 1:10:30 (New York 2013)
Desi Linden (U.S.A.) - 1:10:34 (Naples 2011)
Krista DuChene (Canada) - 1:10:52 (Scotiabank Vancouver 2013)
Sarah Cummings (U.S.A.) - 1:14:06 (Houston 2014)
Caroline LeFrak (U.S.A.) - 1:14:23 (Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia 2011)
Lauren Jimison (U.S.A.) - 1:14:29 (Sacramento 2013)
Esther Erb (U.S.A.) - 1:14:35a (U.S.A. Championships 2013)
Liz Costello (U.S.A.) - 1:14:42 (Brooklyn 2013)
Marci Gage (U.S.A.) - 1:14:49 (U.S.A. Championships 2013
Jane Vongvorachoti (Thailand) - 1:15:24 (Houston 2014)
Sally Kipyego (Kenya) - debut
Molly Huddle (U.S.A.) - debut
Monday, March 3, 2014
Ahouchar and Kim Set Course Records at New Taipei City Wanjinshi Marathon
by Brett Larner
Bringing in a broadly international field of elite athletes from nine countries in a bid for recognition as an IAAF bronze label race, the Mar. 2 New Taipei City Wanjinshi International Marathon was rewarded with new course records in both the men's and women's races despite unforgiving weather.
With strong headwinds and rain in the first half of the seaside out-and-back course, the men's lead pack went through a leisurely first half just over 1:11 before rounding the turnaround point and turning it on to take advantage of the tailwind. The men with the two fastest PBs in the field, Gudisa Shentema (Ethiopia) and Hassane Ahouchar (Morocco), burned off Kenyans Wilson Kibet and Geoffrey Birgen and North Korea's Yong Ho Ri to make it a duel. Shentema led by a stride on the final uphill to the finish but Ahouchar's kick proved too strong as he took the win in 2:17:17, almost two minutes better than the old record set last year. Shentema was a second behind him, with Kibet dropping Ri in the final two kilometers to take 3rd in 2:19:11, two seconds under last year's course record.
The women's race was more aggressive, with Australia's Jane Fardell leading North Koreans Ji Hyang Kim and Kum Hui Rim and Kenyan Ednah Mukwanah through halfway on low 2:34 pace. Japanese hopeful Yuri Yoshizumi (Osaka T&F Assoc.) was knocked out of contention early when she slipped on the wet pavement and fell hard in the first 10 km, injuring both legs and arms. Kim kept up the pace after the turnaround, pushing on alone to win in a PB of 2:34:52, three and a half minutes under last year's women's course record. Mukwanah shook free of Rim for second in 2:36:40, with Rim coming through 14 seconds back in 2:36:54, also a PB. Running much of the race alone, Japan's Shoko Shimizu (Team Aichi Denki) took 4th, tying the old course record in 2:38:18. A familiar face further back was 2006 Asian Games silver medalist Kiyoko Shimahara (Second Wind AC), 8th in 2:46:59 in a training run-level effort as she continues her comeback from giving birth to a son a year and a half ago.
New Taipei City Wanjinshi International Marathon
New Taipei City, Taiwan, 3/2/14
Women
1. Ji Hyang Kim (North Korea) - 2:34:52 - CR, PB
2. Ednah Mukwanah (Kenya) - 2:36:40
3. Kum Hui Rim (North Korea) - 2:36:54 - PB
4. Shoko Shimizu (Japan/Team Aichi Denki) - 2:38:18
5. Tigisit Abidi Sheni (Ethiopia) - 2:42:53
6. Jeannette Faber (U.S.A.) - 2:43:57
7. Tinbit Gidey Weldegebriel (Ethiopia) - 2:45:16
8. Kiyoko Shimahara (Japan/Second Wind AC) - 2:46:59
Men
1. Hassane Ahouchar (Morocco) - 2:17:17 - CR
2. Gudisa Shentema Kudama (Ethiopia) - 2:17:18
3. Wilson Kibet (Kenya) - 2:19:11
4. Yong Ho Ri (North Korea) - 2:19:32
5. Geoffrey Birgen (Kenya) - 2:19:52
6. Sho Matsumoto (Japan/Nikkei Business) - 2:23:09
7. Jackson Kiprotich Chirchir (Kenya) - 2:23:34
8. Richard Kiplimo (Kenya) - 2:25:15
(c) 2014 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
Bringing in a broadly international field of elite athletes from nine countries in a bid for recognition as an IAAF bronze label race, the Mar. 2 New Taipei City Wanjinshi International Marathon was rewarded with new course records in both the men's and women's races despite unforgiving weather.
Men's winner Hassane Ahouchar.
With strong headwinds and rain in the first half of the seaside out-and-back course, the men's lead pack went through a leisurely first half just over 1:11 before rounding the turnaround point and turning it on to take advantage of the tailwind. The men with the two fastest PBs in the field, Gudisa Shentema (Ethiopia) and Hassane Ahouchar (Morocco), burned off Kenyans Wilson Kibet and Geoffrey Birgen and North Korea's Yong Ho Ri to make it a duel. Shentema led by a stride on the final uphill to the finish but Ahouchar's kick proved too strong as he took the win in 2:17:17, almost two minutes better than the old record set last year. Shentema was a second behind him, with Kibet dropping Ri in the final two kilometers to take 3rd in 2:19:11, two seconds under last year's course record.
Ri, Rim, Kim and coaches.
The women's race was more aggressive, with Australia's Jane Fardell leading North Koreans Ji Hyang Kim and Kum Hui Rim and Kenyan Ednah Mukwanah through halfway on low 2:34 pace. Japanese hopeful Yuri Yoshizumi (Osaka T&F Assoc.) was knocked out of contention early when she slipped on the wet pavement and fell hard in the first 10 km, injuring both legs and arms. Kim kept up the pace after the turnaround, pushing on alone to win in a PB of 2:34:52, three and a half minutes under last year's women's course record. Mukwanah shook free of Rim for second in 2:36:40, with Rim coming through 14 seconds back in 2:36:54, also a PB. Running much of the race alone, Japan's Shoko Shimizu (Team Aichi Denki) took 4th, tying the old course record in 2:38:18. A familiar face further back was 2006 Asian Games silver medalist Kiyoko Shimahara (Second Wind AC), 8th in 2:46:59 in a training run-level effort as she continues her comeback from giving birth to a son a year and a half ago.
New Taipei City Wanjinshi International Marathon
New Taipei City, Taiwan, 3/2/14
Women
1. Ji Hyang Kim (North Korea) - 2:34:52 - CR, PB
2. Ednah Mukwanah (Kenya) - 2:36:40
3. Kum Hui Rim (North Korea) - 2:36:54 - PB
4. Shoko Shimizu (Japan/Team Aichi Denki) - 2:38:18
5. Tigisit Abidi Sheni (Ethiopia) - 2:42:53
6. Jeannette Faber (U.S.A.) - 2:43:57
7. Tinbit Gidey Weldegebriel (Ethiopia) - 2:45:16
8. Kiyoko Shimahara (Japan/Second Wind AC) - 2:46:59
Men
1. Hassane Ahouchar (Morocco) - 2:17:17 - CR
2. Gudisa Shentema Kudama (Ethiopia) - 2:17:18
3. Wilson Kibet (Kenya) - 2:19:11
4. Yong Ho Ri (North Korea) - 2:19:32
5. Geoffrey Birgen (Kenya) - 2:19:52
6. Sho Matsumoto (Japan/Nikkei Business) - 2:23:09
7. Jackson Kiprotich Chirchir (Kenya) - 2:23:34
8. Richard Kiplimo (Kenya) - 2:25:15
(c) 2014 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Yamanaka Sets Course Record, 203 Sub-66 at National University Half Marathon Championships (updated)
by Brett Larner
19-year-old Nittai University second-year Hideto Yamanaka lived up to his superb 2014 Hakone Ekiden First Stage win today in Tokyo's Showa Kinen Park, taking nearly five minutes off his half marathon best to win the National University Half Marathon Championships in a course record 1:02:09. Despite cold temperatures and on-and-off rain, Yamanaka led aggressively from the start before getting away in the final kilometers to win by more than twenty seconds over Waseda University's Daiki Taguchi and Koki Ido and Komazawa University's Yoshihiro Nishizawa and Shota Baba.
The momentum of Yamanaka and the others in the front pack pulled the entire field along, the entire top ten going sub-63, nine of them in PB times. For the first time in history 203 men cleared 66 minutes in a single half marathon, a new world record which confirmed the upward trend in Japanese university men's performances that has only increased since Tokyo won the 2020 Olympics. All told 535 men ran under 1:10, surpassing even November's Ageo City Half Marathon in high-end depth.
Update: Earlier reports of 200 breaking 1:06:00 were based on university division results. General division results were published on Mar. 8, with three additional men in that category bringing the total number sub-1:06:00 to 203.
Fewer collegiates lined up at the weekend's other big half, the 65th running of the Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon in Kumamoto, to which Kenyan Johana Maina (Kenya) returned from a 1:29:55 debut for 30 km there two weeks ago to win in by more than a minute in 1:03:07. Keisuke Sago (Takushoku Univ.) was the top university runner, 5th in 1:04:39, with Mao Kuroda (Team Wacoal) winning the women's 10 km in 33:20 by a second over high schooler Yuri Nozoe (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) and Masashi Sakamoto (Kakusho H.S.) claiming the high school boys' 10 km title in 30:09 by two seconds over Yuki Koga (Omuta H.S.).
17th National University Men's Half Marathon Championships
Tachikawa, Tokyo, 3/2/14
click here for complete results
Men
1. Hideto Yamanaka (Nittai Univ.) - 1:02:09 - CR, PB
2. Daiki Taguchi (Waseda Univ.) - 1:02:30 - PB
3. Koki Ido (Waseda Univ.) - 1:02:33 - PB
4. Yoshihiro Nishizawa (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:02:33 - PB
5. Shota Baba (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:02:37 - PB
6. Yuki Matsumura (Juntendo Univ.) - 1:02:46
7. Ryo Shirayoshi (Tokai Univ.) - 1:02:49 - PB
8. Takahiro Yagihara (Teikyo Univ.) - 1:02:49 - PB
9. Masahito Miura (Waseda Univ.) - 1:02:52 - PB
10. Keita Shioya (Chuo Gakuin Univ.) - 1:02:57 - PB
11. Yusuke Nishiyama (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:03:02
12. Toshiyuki Yanagi (Waseda Univ.) - 1:03:04 - PB
13. Shoya Okuno (Nittai Univ.) - 1:03:05 - PB
14. Shinichiro Nakamura (Waseda Univ.) - 1:03:07 - PB
15. Yoshitaka Ogawa (Meiji Univ.) - 1:03:11 - PB
-----
50. Renya Sugiyama (Teikyo Univ.) - 1:04:09 - PB
100. Shinya Saito (Toyo Univ.) - 1:04:47 - PB
150. Kei Ikeda (Tohoku Fukushi Univ.) - 1:05:31
200. Kenshiro Hirata (Nittai Univ.) - 1:05:58
300. Keiichi Kusuoka (Senshu Univ.) - 1:06:52
400. Yoshiaki Sasaki (Heisei Kokusai Univ.) - 1:08:08
500. Kohei Takeda (Osaka Keizai Univ.) - 1:09:36
535. Yuta Okuyama (Saitama Univ.) - 1:09:59
Women
1. Haruna Horikawa (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) - 1:15:53
65th Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon
Tamana, Kumamoto 3/2/14
click here for complete results
Men's Half Marathon
1. Johana Maina (Kenya/Team Fujitsu) - 1:03:07
2. Dishon Karukuwa Maina (Kenya/Team Omokawa Lumber) - 1:04:11
3. Kaoru Hirosue (Team Toyota Kyushu) - 1:04:29
4. Jun Shinoto (Team Sanyo Tokushu Seiko) - 1:04:36
5. Keisuke Sago (Takushoku Univ.) - 1:04:39
Women's 10 km
1. Mao Kuroda (Team Wacoal) - 33:20
2. Yuri Nozoe (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) - 33:21
3. Yuki Nakamura (Team Miyazaki Ginko) - 33:29
4. Chieko Kido (Canon AC Kyushu) - 33:31
5. Haruka Tobimatsu (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) - 33:38
High School Boys' 10 km
1. Masashi Sakamoto (Kakusho H.S.) - 30:09
2. Yuki Koga (Omuta H.S.) - 30:11
3. Kohei Okamoto (Kyushu Kokusai Prep H.S.) - 30:15
(c) 2014 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
19-year-old Nittai University second-year Hideto Yamanaka lived up to his superb 2014 Hakone Ekiden First Stage win today in Tokyo's Showa Kinen Park, taking nearly five minutes off his half marathon best to win the National University Half Marathon Championships in a course record 1:02:09. Despite cold temperatures and on-and-off rain, Yamanaka led aggressively from the start before getting away in the final kilometers to win by more than twenty seconds over Waseda University's Daiki Taguchi and Koki Ido and Komazawa University's Yoshihiro Nishizawa and Shota Baba.
The momentum of Yamanaka and the others in the front pack pulled the entire field along, the entire top ten going sub-63, nine of them in PB times. For the first time in history 203 men cleared 66 minutes in a single half marathon, a new world record which confirmed the upward trend in Japanese university men's performances that has only increased since Tokyo won the 2020 Olympics. All told 535 men ran under 1:10, surpassing even November's Ageo City Half Marathon in high-end depth.
Update: Earlier reports of 200 breaking 1:06:00 were based on university division results. General division results were published on Mar. 8, with three additional men in that category bringing the total number sub-1:06:00 to 203.
Fewer collegiates lined up at the weekend's other big half, the 65th running of the Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon in Kumamoto, to which Kenyan Johana Maina (Kenya) returned from a 1:29:55 debut for 30 km there two weeks ago to win in by more than a minute in 1:03:07. Keisuke Sago (Takushoku Univ.) was the top university runner, 5th in 1:04:39, with Mao Kuroda (Team Wacoal) winning the women's 10 km in 33:20 by a second over high schooler Yuri Nozoe (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) and Masashi Sakamoto (Kakusho H.S.) claiming the high school boys' 10 km title in 30:09 by two seconds over Yuki Koga (Omuta H.S.).
17th National University Men's Half Marathon Championships
Tachikawa, Tokyo, 3/2/14
click here for complete results
Men
1. Hideto Yamanaka (Nittai Univ.) - 1:02:09 - CR, PB
2. Daiki Taguchi (Waseda Univ.) - 1:02:30 - PB
3. Koki Ido (Waseda Univ.) - 1:02:33 - PB
4. Yoshihiro Nishizawa (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:02:33 - PB
5. Shota Baba (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:02:37 - PB
6. Yuki Matsumura (Juntendo Univ.) - 1:02:46
7. Ryo Shirayoshi (Tokai Univ.) - 1:02:49 - PB
8. Takahiro Yagihara (Teikyo Univ.) - 1:02:49 - PB
9. Masahito Miura (Waseda Univ.) - 1:02:52 - PB
10. Keita Shioya (Chuo Gakuin Univ.) - 1:02:57 - PB
11. Yusuke Nishiyama (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:03:02
12. Toshiyuki Yanagi (Waseda Univ.) - 1:03:04 - PB
13. Shoya Okuno (Nittai Univ.) - 1:03:05 - PB
14. Shinichiro Nakamura (Waseda Univ.) - 1:03:07 - PB
15. Yoshitaka Ogawa (Meiji Univ.) - 1:03:11 - PB
-----
50. Renya Sugiyama (Teikyo Univ.) - 1:04:09 - PB
100. Shinya Saito (Toyo Univ.) - 1:04:47 - PB
150. Kei Ikeda (Tohoku Fukushi Univ.) - 1:05:31
200. Kenshiro Hirata (Nittai Univ.) - 1:05:58
300. Keiichi Kusuoka (Senshu Univ.) - 1:06:52
400. Yoshiaki Sasaki (Heisei Kokusai Univ.) - 1:08:08
500. Kohei Takeda (Osaka Keizai Univ.) - 1:09:36
535. Yuta Okuyama (Saitama Univ.) - 1:09:59
Women
1. Haruna Horikawa (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) - 1:15:53
65th Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon
Tamana, Kumamoto 3/2/14
click here for complete results
Men's Half Marathon
1. Johana Maina (Kenya/Team Fujitsu) - 1:03:07
2. Dishon Karukuwa Maina (Kenya/Team Omokawa Lumber) - 1:04:11
3. Kaoru Hirosue (Team Toyota Kyushu) - 1:04:29
4. Jun Shinoto (Team Sanyo Tokushu Seiko) - 1:04:36
5. Keisuke Sago (Takushoku Univ.) - 1:04:39
Women's 10 km
1. Mao Kuroda (Team Wacoal) - 33:20
2. Yuri Nozoe (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) - 33:21
3. Yuki Nakamura (Team Miyazaki Ginko) - 33:29
4. Chieko Kido (Canon AC Kyushu) - 33:31
5. Haruka Tobimatsu (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) - 33:38
High School Boys' 10 km
1. Masashi Sakamoto (Kakusho H.S.) - 30:09
2. Yuki Koga (Omuta H.S.) - 30:11
3. Kohei Okamoto (Kyushu Kokusai Prep H.S.) - 30:15
(c) 2014 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
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