Ryoko Kizaki 31:38 to Win Abashiri 10000 m; Baek Sets Apparent Korean National Record (updated)

by Brett Larner

After being named to this year's World Half Marathon team on the strength of her runner-up finish at last month's National Track and Field Championships, Ryoko Kizaki (Team Daihatsu) closed off this year's Hokuren Distance Challenge with a bang. Kizaki won the HDC's Abashiri meet 10000 m in 31:38.71, a PB by over 45 seconds and a time which missed putting her in the top 10 worldwide so far this year by only 1 second. Second place finisher Kayo Sugihara (Team Denso) was nearly a minute behind in 32:33.37. Sugihara was the only runner in the top 5 not to run a PB.

Kizaki is now ranked 3rd among Japanese women for 10000 m in 2010. Combined with her rankings of 6th for 5000 m, 7th for half marathon and 5th for marathon she is the frontrunner to be named Japanese women's distance runner of the year.

Kenyan ace Edward Waweru (Team NTN) took the men's 5000 m in a quick 13:18.54, while 5th-placer Seung-Ho Baek (S. Korea), a university student and this year's Korean 5000 m national champion, ran what is apparently a South Korean national record of 13:42.98. Masato Kihara (Team Kanebo) was the top Japanese finisher, 4th in 13:40.14.

In other events, first-year corporate runners Kazue Kojima (Team Toyota Jidoshoki) and Yuta Takahashi (Team S&B) won the women's and men's 3000 m. Other distances in the meet included 800 m, 1500 m and 10000 m race walk.

2010 Hokuren Distance Challenge Abashiri Meet - Top Finishers
click here for complete results
Women's 10000 m A-heat
1. Ryoko Kizaki (Team Daihatsu) - 31:38.71 - PB
2. Kayo Sugihara (Team Denso) - 32:33.37
3. Hiroko Shoi (Team Nihon ChemiCon) - 32:36.36 - PB
4. Yuko Machida (Team Nihon ChemiCon) - 32:43.04 - PB
5. Saori Nejo (Team Hokuren) - 32:45.54 - PB
6. Yoko Miyauchi (Team Wacoal) - 32:53.78
7. Shino Saito (Team Shimamura) - 33:04.33
8. Eri Sato (Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) - 33:07.97
9. Noriko Higuchi (Team Wacoal) - 33:11.42
10. Yuka Takashima (Team Denso) - 33:12.28

Men's 5000 m A-heat
1. Edward Waweru (Kenya/Team NTN) - 13:18.54
2. Muwaka Muendo (Kenya/Team Aisan Kogyo) - 13:21.45
3. Titus Waroru (Kenya/Chinzai H.S.) - 13:39.45
4. Masato Kihara (Team Kanebo) - 13:40.14
5. Seung-Ho Baek (S. Korea) - 13:42.98 - NR
6. Shota Yamaguchi (Team Fujitsu) - 13:44.21
7. Shota Hiraga (Waseda Univ.) - 13:45.83
8. Daisuke Shimizu (Team Kanebo) - 13:46.87
9. Wataru Ueno (Komazawa Univ.) - 13:47.10
10. Kenta Sato (Team Tokyo Denryoku) - 13:47.23

Women's 3000 m A-heat
1. Kazue Kojima (Team Toyota Jidoshoki) - 9:08.85
2. Ayaka Mori (Team Toyota Jidoshoki) - 9:12.51
3. Saori Yamashita (Team Hokuren) - 9:13.10

Men's 3000 m
1. Yuta Takahashi (Team S&B) - 8:10.45
2. Noriaki Takahashi (Team S&B) - 8:11.76
3. Akira Kiniwa (Team S&B) - 8:43.97

(c) 2010 Brett Larner
all rights reserved

Two-Time Olympic Marathon Medalist Erick Wainaina Referred to Prosectors on Suspicion of Assault

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