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Japanese Olympic Distance Running Preview - Women`s 3000m Steeplechase

by Brett Larner

Women`s 3000 m SC

Minori Hayakari
Born: Nov. 29, 1972, Kyoto
Team Affiliation: Kyoto Koka AC
Olympic Event PB: 9:33.93, 7/20/08 – NR
Season Highlights:
-NR, 3000m SC: 9:33.93, 7/20/08
-National Champion, 3000m SC: 9:48.43, 6/28/08
Career Highlights:
-NR, 3000m SC: 9:33.93, 2008
-NR, 2000m: 5:53.70, 2002
-Former NR, 3000m SC: 9:38.68, 2007
-Former NR, AR, 3000m SC, 9:41.21, 2005 (broke NR 3 times in 2005)
-National Champion, 3000m SC, 2006-2008
-National Champion, 800m and 1500m, 1996
-World T&F Championships, 3000m SC, 2005, 2007
-World T&F Championships, 3000m, 1991
-World XC Championships, 1990, 1991, 2002, 2005, 2006
-World Indoor T&F Championships, 1500m, 1999

Minori Hayakari comes to the Beijing Olympics as something of an anomaly in Japanese women`s distance running. After early-career success in the 3000m, in which she competed at the World Championships as a teenager, she switched focus in her mid-20’s to the 800 m and 1500 m. Once hitting her 30`s she again changed discipline, this time focusing on the 3000m steeplechase, a relatively minor event in Japan. Beginning in 2005 Hayakari launched an era of steeplechase domination, setting the then-Asian record and multiple national records, winning the National Championships three years running, and competing in the World Championships. A memorable fall at the 2007 Osaka World Championships ended her hopes of medaling on home ground, but Hayakari approaches Beijing in the best shape of her life, fresh from another National Championships victory followed a few weeks later by taking nearly 5 seconds off her own national record, all while nearly 36 years old. It is unlikely that she will be in contention for a medal in the Olympics, but Hayakari has yet to show signs of peaking in ability and a performance near her best is possible.

© 2008 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
photo from Rikuren archive
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