National University Men's Ekiden Kanto Region Qualifier Preview and Streaming

November's National University Men's Ekiden is the second of the Big Three University Ekidens that make up the peak of the year for Japanese collegiate men. The top eight teams auto-qualify for the following year, and every year it's a given that they're all going to be from the Tokyo-centric Kanto Region. Another 17 schools have to run regional qualifiers to make it back, and of those another seven come from Kanto. The Kanto Region Qualifier happens Saturday at 17:15 Japan time, four heats of 10000 m on the track with two runners from each of the twenty schools in each heat. Teams are scored on the combined times of all eight runners, with the seven fastest total teams going on to Nationals in November.

On paper Chuo Gakuin University and Kanagawa University are the favorites with seven entrants each with bests under 29 minutes, in CGU's case led by sub-28 3rd-year Reishi Yoshida. Tokai University, Daito Bunka University and Josai University are next with six sub-29 men apiece, and with five each Meiji University and Rikkyo University make up the rest of the top tier. But Teikyo University and Nittai University are close behind at four each, and Tokyo Kokusai University's sub-13:20 1st-year Amos Bett adds enough to its lineup of three runners sub-29 to put it into contention too.

Top individual entrants this year include:

Amos Bett (1st yr., Tokyo Kokusai Univ.) - 13:16.85 (5000 m)

David Shun'qeya (2nd yr., Reitaku Univ.) - 27:46.08

James Mutok (2nd yr., Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) - 27:50.54

Reishi Yoshida (3rd yr., Chuo Gakuin Univ.) - 27:58.60

Shotaro Ishihara (4th yr., Tokai Univ.) - 28:05.91

Duncan Kisaisa (2nd yr., Senshu Univ.) - 28:11.79

Yoshiteru Takatsuki (4th yr., Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) - 28:11.99

Johnson Mogeni (1st yr., Asia Univ.) - 28:12.55

Shadrack Kipkemoi (1st yr., Nihon Univ.) - 28:13.10

Hisaya Hanaoka (2nd yr., Tokai Univ.) - 28:15.65

Neo Namiki (4th yr., Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) - 28:16.30

Atsuki Kobayashi (4th yr., Kanagawa Univ.) - 28:21.10

Peter Kamau (3rd yr., Kokushikan Univ.) - 28:21.49

Masaki Kodama (4th yr., Meiji Univ.) - 28:22.27

Tasuku Yamazaki (2nd yr., Nittai Univ.) - 28:23.69

Victor Kimutai (2nd yr., Josai Univ.) - 28:24.57

Shota Morishita (2nd yr., Meiji Univ.) - 28:24.84

Peter Wanjiru (3rd yr., Daito Bunka Univ.) - 28:25.20

Yuito Yamamoto (4th yr., Josai Univ.) - 28:25.21

Yusuke Shirai (3rd yr., Tokyo Kokusai Univ.) - 28:27.45

Yudai Katakawa (3rd yr., Asia Univ.) - 28:27.51

Koki Matsuo (4th yr., Tokai Univ.) - 28:27.77

Godfrey Musanga (2nd yr., Surugadai Univ.) - 28:28.36

Safumi Sugi (4th yr., Meiji Univ.) - 28:28.94

Kenta Sekiguchi (4th yr., Rikkyo Univ.) - 28:29.24

Toru Kubota (4th yr., Daito Bunka Univ.) - 28:29.75

Complete entry lists are here. Heat One starts at 17:15 Saturday local time, with the other heats starting every 40 minutes.

Keita Sato Joins Swoosh TC

After appearing at a Nike event on Apr. 3, U20 1500 m NR and indoor 3000 m and 5000 m NR holder Keita Sato , 22, updated his Instagram profile to announce that he is joining Nike's Swoosh TC . At the Nike event Sato said that he plans to run the 1500 m at the Apr. 11 Kanaguri Memorial Meet, then will move to the U.S. "To be successful at the global level I need to train and grow alongside world-class athletes," he said. "I have to take every day seriously in order to achieve that dream of being internationally competitive." Swoosh TC was founded last year. Its coach Mike Smith has guided many athletes to international championships, including prior to Swoosh TC's launch, with some earning medals and podium finishes under his leadership. photo © 2026 Brett Larner, all rights reserved source article: https://www.rikujyokyogi.co.jp/archives/204241/2 translated by Brett Larner

Weekend Track Roundup

There were 2 decently competitive meets in the Tokyo area this weekend. Saturday saw the new year's first edition of the Setagaya Time Trials meet. Takuma Akiyoshi took the men's 3000 m A-heat over his MABP Maverick teammate Festus Kiprono Cheruiyot with a 7:58.32 PB. Cheruiyot just held off 3rd-placer Nao Kurihara 7:59.92 to 8:00.02, with MABP runners taking the top 5 spots. The top 7 in the men's 5000 m A-heat all cleared 14 minutes. Still a 6-way race with 400 m to go, Tatsuya Maruyama of Komori Corp. came out on top in 13:48.49, with 5th-placer Kazuki Ishii of Yakult just over a second behind in 13:49.63. Lacking the gear to stay with them, new American marathon sensation Ethan Shuley fell back to 6th in 13:57.12 in his first-ever track 5000 m, holding off 7th-placer Daiki Nomimura of NTT Nishi Nihon who came up from behind to finish in 13:58.30. Sunday was the 59th edition of the Tokyo Big 6 meet between Waseda University , Meiji University , Hosei Univers...

Kanakuri Memorial Meet Streaming and Start Lists

Japan's outdoor Grand Prix season kicks off Saturday in Kumamoto at the Kanakuri Memorial Meet . Streaming will be at the link above starting at 9:30 a.m. local time. Complete timetable and start lists . Main events and some noteworthy entries: GP Women's 800 m Heat 2 - 12:10 p.m. All-time JPN #4 Ayano Shiomi , 2:01.01 GP Men's 800 m Heat 2 - 12:30 p.m. GP Women's 3000 mSC - 2:45 p.m. All-time JPN #4 Yuzu Nishide , 9:38.95 All-time JPN #5 Manami Nishiyama , 9:39.28 South Korean NR holder Ha-Rim Cho , 9:53.09 GP Men's 3000 mSC - 3:05 p.m. All-time JPN #2 Ryoma Aoki , 8:18.75 All-time JPN #5 Yutaro Niinae , 8:19.54 All-time JPN #7 Hibiki Obara , 8:22.64 All-time U20 JPN #2 Tetsu Sasaki , 8:29.05 All-time U20 JPN #3 Soma Nagahara , 8:30.37 GP Women's 1500 m Heat 2 - 3:35 p.m. Teresiah Muthoni , 4:02.54 Margaret Ekalale , 4:09.64 all-time JPN #3 Ran Urabe , 4:07.90 All-time JPN #6 Tomoka Kimura , 4:09.79 All-time U20 #5 Mei Sakiyama , 4:13.67 GP Men's 1500...

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