Kimunyan Runs Fastest-Ever 10000 m in Japan, Iizawa Up to 1500 m All-Time #2

Kimunyan Runs Fastest-Ever 10000 m in Japan, Iizawa Up to 1500 m All-Time #2 - Weekend Track Update

Three big pre-ekiden season meets happened this weekend and produced some big results. Saturday at the Nittai University Time Trials in Yokohama, Richard Kimunyan (Hitachi Butsuryu) and Benard Koech (Kyudenko) pushed each other under Josphat Ndambiri's longstanding 10000 m Japan all-comers record of 26:57.36, Kimunyan setting the new record at 26:54.76 and Koech next in 26:55.04. Those times made them the only Kenyans under 27 minutes this year worldwide, with the Hachioji Long Distance meet still to come next month. Three others were under 27:30 led by Jonathan Ndiku (Hitachi Butsuryu) in 27:12.84, with Kazuya Shiojiri (Fujitsu) the top Japanese man at 6th in 27:53.00.

Justus Soget (Honda) took the 5000 m A-heat in 13:24.01, the top five all under 13:30 and another Fujitsu runner, Olympian Hiroki Matsueda, filling the top Japanese spot at 8th in 13:34.62. Harumi Okamoto (Yamada Holdings) won the women's 5000 m A-heat in 15:49.72, and Kenyan Hellen Ekarare (Toyota Jidoshokki) led the 3000 m in 8:49.31.

The biggest news at Niigata's Athletics Challenge Cup was in the men's 1500 m, where Kazuto Iizawa (Tokai Univ.) ran a hard solo last lap to moved up to all-time Japanese #2 in 3:36.55. Iizawa's time was also the fastest-ever by a Japanese-born collegiate runner, 0.04 under the time Ryuji Miura (Juntendo Univ.) ran in April. 8 of the 10 fastest Japanese men's 1500 m times ever have now been run since July 17, 2021, with only one having happened before July 9, 2019. Abraham Guem (Ami AC) was the only other runner under 3:40, running 3:39.35. Yume Goto (Toyota Jidoshokki) won the women's 1500 m in 4:10.79.

Olympian Yuta Bando (Fujitsu) ran the fastest Japanese men's 5000 m time of the weekend, taking the A-heat win in Niigata in 13:21.94. Shunsuke Yoshii (Chuo Univ.), younger brother of former U20 5000 m NR holder Yamato Yoshii, ran 13:40.26 for 5th, while the holder Yoshii, also at Chuo, was 13th in only 14:19.19. Agnes Mwikali (Kyocera) had a solid win in the women's A-heat in 14:56.81, with National Corporate Championships 10000 m winner Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) negative splitting the B-heat in 15:01.62 for the win. Ayano Shiomi (Iwatani Sangyo) took the women's 800 m in 2:04.41.

At the Chugoku Corporate Time Trials meet in Hiroshima, Anthony Maina (Toyota Kyushu) turned in a solid 27:41.70 for the 10000 m A-heat win by less than a second over Evans Kipkemei (JFE Steel). Cleophas Kandie (Mitsubishi Juko) took the 5000 m A-heat in 13:26.62. Marathoner Rei Ohara (Tenmaya) had her best race in a long time, winning the women's 5000 m in 15:55.70.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Hakone Ekiden

The Hakone Ekiden is the world's biggest road race, 2 days of road relay action with Japan's 20 best university teams racing 10 half marathon-scale legs from central Tokyo to the mountains east of Mount Fuji and back. The level just keeps going higher and higher , hitting the point this year where there are teams with 10-runner averages of 13:33.10 for 5000 m, 27:55.98 for 10000 m, and 1:01:20 for the half marathon. It's never been better, and with great weather in the forecast it's safe to say this could be one of the best races in Hakone's 102-year history, especially on Day One. If you've seen it then you know NTV's live broadcast is the best sports broadcast in the world, with the pre-race show kicking off at 7:00 a.m. Japan time on the 2nd and 3rd and the race starting at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If you've got a VPN you should be able to watch it on TVer starting at 7:50 a.m. on the 2nd , and again at 7:50 a.m. on the 3rd . There's even a 2-hour high...

Nagoya Asian Games Test Event Canceled After Insulation Falls From Venue Ceiling

A section of insulation material fell from the ceiling of Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, the official venue for squash competition at September's Nagoya Asian Games. There were no injuries, but the city suspended use of the arena until its safety could be guaranteed, resulting in the cancelation of the Asian Games squash test event which was scheduled to have begun on May 14. It is not yet clear whether the arena will be usable for the Asian Games as planned. According to city officials, arena staff found that the insulation material had fallen onto a work walkway 13 m above the ground on the night of May 11. The fallen material was 3.6 m long, 50 cm wide and 2.5 km thick, and was found to be waterlogged. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is possible that it was caused by rainwater leaking in from the roof. The same insulation material is installed across the entire ceiling, and the city plans to check for the extent of the possible flooding. Asked whether the arena will be re...

Federation Tells World Championships Marathoner Horibata To Go On Diet

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20110307-OHT1T00258.htm translated by Brett Larner Having made the 2011 World Championships marathon team by running a PB of 2:09:25 to come in 3rd overall and as the top Japanese finisher at the Mar. 6 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, Hiroyuki Horibata (24, Team Asahi Kasei), talked to the media at Osaka Airport on Mar. 7. Following Sunday's race Rikuren director Keisuke Sawaki , 67, told Horibata, "Let's cut things down a bit until the World Championships," directing him to go on a diet. The 189 cm Horibata weighs 72 kg [~6'3", 160 lbs]. When he joined Team Asahi Kasei in 2005 at age 18 he weighed 65 kg, and this weight is still generally listed on his profile at races and in the media. "For some reason it never changes," he said with a grin. His coach Takeshi Soh , 58, commented, "If he was hungrier for glory his world would change completely," slapping the 'heavyweight division runner...

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