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Yamamoto Breaks 1994-Era Collegiate Women's 3000 m NR in Kitami


The Hokuren Distance Challenge series continued Saturday in Kitami, where the biggest news came in the women's 3000 m. National ekiden champion Meijo University's Yuma Yamamoto took over 6 seconds off Masako Saito's collegiate record dating back to 1994, running 8:52.19 for 6th. 19-year-old Agnes Mwikali (Kyocera) took the top spot in a PB 8:45.86, with high schoolers Janet Nyiva (Kurashiki H.S.) and Susan Kamotho (Oita Tomei H.S.) running impressive U20 times of 8:47.89 and 8:50.24. The top 9 were all under 9 minutes, very deep for a domestic Japanese race. 2019 World University Games half marathon gold medalist Yuka Suzuki (Daito Bunka Univ.) ran her 2nd PB for 5000 m this week, taking the top spot in the A-heat in 15:30.14 with a 2:59 final 1000 m.

The men's 3000 m saw former 1500 m NR holder Nanami Arai (Honda) run a PB 7:48.50 for the win, moving him up to all-time Japanese #5. Hazuma Hattori (Toenec), younger brother of marathoner Yuma Hattori, was 2nd in a PB of 7:51.10, with the rest of the top 6 going under 8 minutes in PB times. Five of the ten fastest Japanese men's 3000 m times ever have now been run since July, 2020.

Kamotho's teammate Daniel Ndiritu (Oita Tomei H.S.) scored the win in the men's 5000 m A-heat in 13:31.53, with Shuho Dairokuno (Asahi Kasei) winning the men's 10000 m in 28:12.56. Hattori's teammate Yudai Noguchi (Toenec) narrowly missed joining the sub-3:40 club in the men's 1500 m A-heat, running a PB 3:40.07 for 1st.

The Hokuren Distance Challenge series continues Wednesday in Abashiri.

photos and text © 2022 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

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