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Weekend Track Roundup - Fukushi and Yokote on Top

by Brett Larner

On the only quiet weekend of the year in the lull before three-straight weekends of National Championship ekiden action, the only domestic races of note took place on the track.  Women's 5000 m national record holder Kayoko Fukushi (Team Wacoal) returned to action in her first race since October's Chicago Marathon, winning the women's 5000 m at the Kumamoto Long Distance Time Trials meet on the 10th in 15:50.66.  Wacoal used the race as a tuneup for next weekend's National Corporate Women's Ekiden Championships, with Wacoal runners taking the majority of the top places.

Further north, Sakushin Gakuin H.S. ace Ken Yokote followed up last weekend's 28:57.31 PB at the Nittai University Time Trials 10000 m with a 13:58.86 to win the 5000 m A-heat at the Heisei Kokusai University Time Trials.  Yokote was the only runner to break 14, his nearest competition, Toyo University's Norihisa Imai, more than 10 seconds behind.

Kumamoto Long Distance Time Trials
Kumamoto, 12/10/2011
click here for complete results

Women's 5000 m
1. Kayoko Fukushi (Team Wacoal) - 15:50.66
2. Yuko Hakoyama (Team Wacoal) - 15:59.07
3. Saki Watanabe (Team Wacoal) - 15:59.22
4. Anna Hasuike (Team Higo Ginko) - 16:08.19
5. Chihiro Takato (Team Wacoal) - 16:08.66

Heisei Kokusai University Time Trials
Kazo, Saitama, 12/10/2011
click here for complete results

Men's 5000 m Heat 20
1. Ken Yokote (Sakushin Gakuin H.S.) - 13:58.86
2. Norimasa Imai (Toyo Univ.) - 14:09.34
3. Masashi Ishida (Kyushu Kokusai Prep H.S.) - 14:11.33

(c) 2011 Brett Larner
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