Kanakuri Memorial Meet Highlights

Kumamoto's Kanakuri Memorial Meet kicked off Japan's outdoor track season Saturday. In cold and windy conditions Hakone Ekiden great Vincent Yegon made his debut for two-time New Year Ekiden champ Honda with a win in a four-way battle over the last lap, dropping Samson Ndirangu (Sunbelx) in the last 50 m for 1st 27:37.85 to 27:39.67. Tomoki Ota (Toyota) was 3rd in 27:42.49, with collegiate half marathon champ Kotaro Shinohara of Hakone Ekiden winner Komazawa University 4th in 27:43.13, the 4th-best ever by a Japanese-born collegiate man.

The women's 10000 m had only five athletes on the starting line, and it was 2022 National Corporate Half Marathon champion Dolphine Omare (U.S.E.) all the way. Omare clocked 31:44.67, over 30 seconds up on top Japanese woman Misaki Hayashida (Kyudenko). Hayashida was 2nd in 32:15.97, with all four Japanese women clearing 32:45.

The men's 5000 m was split into six heats, with Heat 6 winner Emmanuel Korir (Mitsubishi Juko) turning in the fastest time of the day in 13:24.54 by 0.25 over new Tokyo Kokusai University recruit Amos Kibet. Kazuya Shiojiri (Fujitsu) was the top Japanese man in 13:26.03 for 4th, with U20 NR holder Keita Sato (Komazawa Univ.) 8th in 13:30.12. H.S. In his debut for Juntendo University NR holder Hiroto Yoshioka was 11th in 13:56.34.

A transfer from Asahi Kasei, Benuel Mogeni Magoma (Yasukawa Denki) took Heat 5 in 13:27.60 by 0.44 over Kazuki Tamura (Sumitomo Denko), who continues his comeback from a long pre-Olympic injury. Heat 4 went almost as fast as Heat 6, with Peter Kibui Wangari (NTN) getting the win in a photo finish with James Mutok (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.), 13:24.725 to 13:24.728.

Kamimura Gakuen High School's Caroline Kariba closed with a 2:53 final 1000 m to win what up to that point was a slow women's 5000 m A-heat, running 15:23.69 to beat 14:30.77 runner Eva Cherono (Toto) by 0.23. Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) was close behind in 3rd in 15:24.04, with Nagisa Shimotabira (Senko) the fastest Japan woman in 15:32.94 for 7th. Rina Nabeshima (Sekisui Kagaku) won the B-heat in 15:36.88, with 31-year-old Olympic marathon trials qualifier and mother Sairi Maeda (Daihatsu) surprising with a 15:37.17 for 2nd, her best time since running her PB of 15:32.22 back in 2012.

Janet Nyiva (Panasonic) won the women's 3000 m in 8:59.75, beating runner-up Risa Yamazaki (Nittai Univ.) by over 15 seconds.

In her first race with new sponsor Uniqlo, Yume Goto outkicked NR holder Nozomi Tanaka (New Balance) over the last 150 m to win the women's 1500 m in 4:17.98. Tanaka faded badly and was almost caught by a fast-closing Aoi Suzuki (Nitori), just holding her off by 0.12 for 2nd in 4:20.11.

Ryoji Tatezawa (DeNA) also came from behind to win the men's 1500 m in 3:41.00, running down all-time #3 Ryuji Miura (Juntendo Univ.), #4 Nanami Arai (Honda) and others to do it. NR holder Kazuto Kawamura (Toenec) was only 12th in 3:48.67.

Complete results here.

Wanjiru Breaks Own MR, Fuwa and Ishida Return - Kanto Regionals Day 1 Highlights

Japan's best college meet kicked off Thursday at Tokyo's National Stadium at the 103rd Kanto Region University Track and Field Championships . Looking like she was doing a controlled tempo run, 2nd-yr Sarah Wanjiru (Daito Bunka Univ.) lapped the entire field to win the women's 10000 m in a meet record 32:02.87, almost 15 seconds under the record she last year in her debut. 3rd-yr Aoi Takahashi (Josai Univ.) was 2nd in 33:29.22 and 2nd-yr Nana Nagashima (Josai Kokusai Univ.) 3rd in a PB 33:30.28, but the other main news alongside Wanjiru's new record was the return of collegiate 10000 m record holder Seira Fuwa (Takushoku Univ.) in her first 10000 m in 19 months. Fuwa hung at the back of the chase pack for the first half, made a move to lead it in the second half, and ultimately faded to 9th in 33:40.20. Every comeback has to start somewhere. The D1 men's 10000 m had a tight group up front with the top 6 all finishing within 6 seconds and under 28:10. 3rd-yr Jam

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

According to investigators, two-time Olympic marathon medalist Erick Wainaina has had his case referred to prosecutors after allegedly injuring a railway employee by striking him in the face at a station in Setagaya, Tokyo. Wainaina, 50, was the bronze medalist in the marathon at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and won silver in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Wainaina is suspected of assaulting a woman in her late teens and a male Tokyo Denentoshi Line employee by hitting them in the face during an altercation at Komazawa University Station in March this year, resulting in minor injuries to the man's face. According to investigators, the incident began on the train between Wainaina and the woman, and after getting off at Komazawa University Station he hit her in the face when she asked him to go to the station office with her to report it. When the male railway employee responded to the situation Wainaina reportedly hit him too. In response to questioning Wainaina is said to have answered,

Police Arrest 20-Year-Old Man Charged With Assaulting Female Runner at Popular Tokyo Running Spot

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a female runner along the banks of the Tama River in Ota Ward, Tokyo. "I've been stuck at home because of the coronavirus, so I wanted to go for a walk and move my body a bit," the man told police. Local resident Hirai Muroyama , 20, of no known occupation, was arrested on charges of sexual assault. He is accused of acts including grabbing the breasts of a woman in her 20s at around 10 p.m. on May 31 along the banks of the Tama River. According to police, the woman was taking a break in her run when Muroyama approached her silently from behind and grabbed her breasts before running away. Under police interrogation Muroyama told investigators, "I've been stuck at home because of the coronavirus, so I wanted to go out for a walk and move my body. I'd had a few drinks and was feeling pretty hype. She was totally my type." source article: https://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newsey

japan running news

Search This Blog