http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2008071300185
translated by Brett Larner
At the fifth meet in the Hokuren Distance Challenge track and field series, the July 13th Kitami Meet in Kitami, Hokkaido, Team Hokuren`s Yukiko Akaba won the women`s 5000 m in a personal best time of 15:06.07. Her mark, set with the aid of a male pacemaker, cleared the Olympic A-standard of 15:09.00. Akaba has already been named to the Beijing Olympic team in the women`s 10000 m but is now eligible to double in the 5000 m. Team Toyota Jidoshokki`s Yuriko Kobayashi and Team Wacoal`s Kayoko Fukushi also hold the A-standard and have already been named to the Olympic team.*
Kobayashi, the national record holder in the women`s 1500 m, ran the 1500 m at the Kitami meet. She won in a time of 4:12.76
Other athletes hoping for last-minute Olympic team selection have until July 23rd to run a qualifying time. In any event if one athlete from a given country breaks the Olympic A-standard the country may send up to 3 competitors in that event.
*Translator`s note: Kobayashi won the National Track and Field Championships 5000 m earlier this month, with Akaba 2nd and Fukushi 3rd. Kobayashi and Fukushi already held the Olympic A-standard at the time and so were named to the Beijing team. Akaba had not broken the Olympic A-standard at the time of Nationals and was thus left off the preliminary team lineup. Having now broken the A-standard she will almost certainly be added to the team.
translated by Brett Larner
At the fifth meet in the Hokuren Distance Challenge track and field series, the July 13th Kitami Meet in Kitami, Hokkaido, Team Hokuren`s Yukiko Akaba won the women`s 5000 m in a personal best time of 15:06.07. Her mark, set with the aid of a male pacemaker, cleared the Olympic A-standard of 15:09.00. Akaba has already been named to the Beijing Olympic team in the women`s 10000 m but is now eligible to double in the 5000 m. Team Toyota Jidoshokki`s Yuriko Kobayashi and Team Wacoal`s Kayoko Fukushi also hold the A-standard and have already been named to the Olympic team.*
Kobayashi, the national record holder in the women`s 1500 m, ran the 1500 m at the Kitami meet. She won in a time of 4:12.76
Other athletes hoping for last-minute Olympic team selection have until July 23rd to run a qualifying time. In any event if one athlete from a given country breaks the Olympic A-standard the country may send up to 3 competitors in that event.
*Translator`s note: Kobayashi won the National Track and Field Championships 5000 m earlier this month, with Akaba 2nd and Fukushi 3rd. Kobayashi and Fukushi already held the Olympic A-standard at the time and so were named to the Beijing team. Akaba had not broken the Olympic A-standard at the time of Nationals and was thus left off the preliminary team lineup. Having now broken the A-standard she will almost certainly be added to the team.
Comments