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Karoki, Moges Win Oda Memorial 5000 m

by Brett Larner

In high winds, Kenyan Bitan Karoki (Team S&B) took his first win in his new team colors as he ran 13:48.17 in the men's 5000 m at the 44th Oda Memorial Track and Field Meet on Apr. 29. Last month Karoki graduated from Sera High School to take a place with the elite Team S&B. Interestingly, the runner-up in the Oda Memorial 5000 m was his succesor at Sera, Kenyan Charles Durango, who clocked 13:58.15. Naoki Okamoto (Team Chugoku Denryoku) finished 3rd in 14:04.70 over Kenyan Samuel Ganga (Team Mazda).

The women's 5000 m was a closer-pitched battle, turning into a three-way sprint finish. Ethiopian Betelhem Moges (Team Denso) came out on top in 15:38.70, with Kenyans Felista Wanjugu (Team Universal Entertainment) and Danielle Filomena Cheyech (Team Uniqlo) just a step behind. Just behind, Hitomi Niiya (Team Toyota Jidoshoki) outleaned Yuko Shimizu (Team Sekisui Kagaku) for 4th.

2010 Oda Memorial Track & Field Meet - Top Finishers
click event for complete results
Men's 5000 m
1. Bitan Karoki (Kenya/Team S&B) - 13:48.17
2. Charles Durango (Kenya/Sera H.S.) - 13:58.15
3. Naoki Okamoto (Team Chugoku Denryoku) - 14:04.70
4. Samuel Ganga (Kenya/Team Mazda) - 14:15.92
5. Tsuyoshi Ueno (Team JFE Steel) - 14:20.28
-----
26. Tsuyoshi Ogata (Team Chugoku Denryoku) - 14:56.29

Women's 5000 m
1. Betelhem Moges (Ethiopia/Team Denso) - 15:38.70
2. Felista Wanjugu (Kenya/Team Universal Entertainment) - 15:39.78
3. Danielle Filomena Cheyech (Kenya/Team Uniqlo) - 15:40.12
4. Hitomi Niiya (Team Toyota Jidoshoki) - 15:42.20
5. Yuko Shimizu (Team Sekisui Kagaku) - 15:42.46
6. Kaori Urata (Team Tenmaya) - 15:43.04
7. Miho Notagashira (Team Wacoal) - 15:44.56
8. Risa Takenaka (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 15:48.41
9. Misato Yamaguchi (Team Yamada Denki) - 15:50.03
10. Madoka Ogi (Team Juhachi Ginko) - 15:53.11

(c) 2010 Brett Larner
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