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Meiji University Sweeps Yaizu Minato Half

by Brett Larner

Following up on last year's record-setting race, the Yaizu Minato Half Marathon returned for the 25th anniversary of its unique pair marathon university championship format with some of Japan's best university teams scoring the top two of their three members in the race.  Meiji University, one of the potential favorites for the 2013-14 ekiden season, took the team title in 2:09:43 as Tomoyasu Matsui and Shin Kimura went 1-2 a second apart in 1:04:51 and 1:04:52.  2012 Izumo Ekiden course record-setter Aoyama Gakuin University was 2nd in 2:10:30 with all three of its runners making the top ten, with 2012 National University Ekiden course record-setter Komazawa University 3rd in 2:10:56 despite not getting anyone into the top five.  Shota Kai of 2013 Hakone Ekiden winner Nittai University was 3rd overall, but Nittai did not make the team podium.

28th Yaizu Minato Half Marathon
25th National University Pair Marathon Championships
Yaizu, Shizuoka, 4/14/13
click here for complete results

University Men
1. Tomoyasu Matsui (Meiji Univ.) - 1:04:51
2. Shin Kimura (Meiji Univ.) - 1:04:52
3. Shota Kai (Nittai Univ.) - 1:04:59
4. Shunsuke Ishida (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:05:09
5. Shintaro Miwa (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) - 1:05:18
6. Shoya Kurokawa (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:05:21
7. Soshi Takahashi (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:05:21
8. Shohei Uehara (Tokai Univ.) - 1:05:29
9. Takashi Mino (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:05:34
10. Shota Baba (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:05:35

University Pair Marathon Team Results
1. Meiji Univ. - 2:09:43
2. Aoyama Gakuin Univ. - 2:10:30
3. Komazawa Univ. - 2:10:56
4. Tokyo Nogyo Univ. - 2:11:10

(c) 2013 Brett Larner
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