Nyiva and Wolde Win Gifu Seiryu Half

Two good races happened Sunday at the Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon. The women's race was a head-to-head race between 2022 marathon world champion Gotytom Gebreslase and debuting Japan-based Janet Nyiva. Side-by-side through 15 km, Nyiva shattered Gebreslase with a massive surge over the last 5 km that ultimately put 52 second between them, Nyiva wining in 1:07:37 and Gebreslase next in 1:08:29.

2023 Asian marathon champion Eunice Chebichii Chumba held off the up-and-coming Kana Kobayashi, a member of Japan's marathon team for September's Tokyo World Championships, with a 1:09:07 for 3rd. Kobayashi's 1:09:09 for 4th was a PB by almost 5 minutes and the fastest time ever on the rolling Gifu course by a Japanese woman. Yumi Yoshikawa was 5th in 1:10:51.

Five men went out front on mid-59 pace. Dawit Wolde, debuting Kiprono Sitonik, Vincent Yegon and veteran Bedan Karoki all took turns leading, with only Richard Kimunyan tucking in and declining to share the load. As in the women's race Wolde and Sitonik broke away with a long surge over the last 5 km, and Wolde had the wheels in the final km to take the win in 1:00:06 to Sitonik's 1:00:13. Yegon and Kimunan were both under 62 minutes in 3rd and 4th, with Karoki just holding off 2025 corporate marathon champion Tsubasa Ichiyama for 5th in 1:02:12.

Out fast, Ichiyama settled into a comfortable solo pace after 10 km, only to be caught by Masashi Nonaka at 19 km. Ichiyama responded with a surge to reopen 19 seconds on for 6th and top Japanese in 1:02:21. Both Ichiyama and Yoshikawa will be running next month's Launceston Running Festival half marathon in Tasmania, Australia.

Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon

Gifu, 27 April 2025

complete women's results

complete men's results

Women

1. Janet Nyiva (Kenya/Pansonic) - 1:07:37 - debut

2. Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia) - 1:08:29

3. Eunice Chebichii Chumba (Bahrain) - 1:09:07

4. Kana Kobayashi (Otsuka Seiyaku) - 1:09:09 - PB

5. Yumi Yoshikawa (Aichi T&F Assoc.) - 1:10:51

6. Mio Kuroda (Kyocera) - 1:11:26

7. Miu Yagi (Iwatani Sangyo) - 1:11:40

8. Mizuki Matsuda (Daihatsu) - 1:11:46

9. Yuna Arai (Sekisui Kagaku) - 1:12:47

10. Erina Yasui (Iwatani Sangyo) - 1:13:20

11. Mirai Waku (Universal Ent.) - 1:14:08

12. Rinka Hida (Daiichi Seimei) - 1:15:15

13. Natsuki Ogawa (Suzuki) - 1:15:32

14. Mao Kiyota (Suzuki) - 1:16:45

15. Misaki Matsumoto (Chukyo Gakuin Univ.) - 1:17:15

Men

1. Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia) - 1:00:06

2. Kiprono Sitonik (Kenya/Kurosaki Harima) - 1:00:13 - debut

3. Vincent Yegon (Kenya/Honda) - 1:01:17

4. Richard Kimunyan (Kenya/Logisteed) - 1:01:57

5. Bedan Karoki (Kenya/Toyota) - 1:02:12

6. Tsubasa Ichiyama (Sunbelx) - 1:02:21

7. Masashi Nonaki (Toyota) - 1:02:40

8. Yeneblo Biyazen (Ethiopia/Hiramatsu Byoin) - 1:02:44

9. Benard Kimani (Kenya/Comodi Iida) - 1:02:45

10. Kyohei Hosoya (Kurosaki Harima) - 1:02:45

11. Yuta Shitara (Nishitetsu) - 1:02:53

12. Shun Sadakata (Mazda) - 1:02:56

13. Mizuki Higashi (Aisan Kogyo) - 1:03:07

14. Maru Teferi (Israel) - 1:03:09

15. Taisei Kato (Asahi Kasei) - 1:03:32

National University Championships Entry Lists and Streaming

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Yuasa and Niiya Win Hokkaido Marathon, 6 Qualify for Olympic Trials

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Monterey Welcomes Student-Athletes from Sister City Nanao, Japan

a press release by the Monterey-Nanao Cross Country Exchange Project photos here Fourteen student-athletes from Nanao High School in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, recently completed a weeklong visit to the Monterey Peninsula as part of the Monterey–Nanao Cross Country Exchange Project , bringing together young people from the two Sister Cities through running, education, environmental stewardship, cultural exchange, and friendship. The seven boys and seven girls from Nanao were paired with 14 members of the Monterey High School cross country team and stayed in their homes throughout the visit. The week marked the first half of a reciprocal exchange that will continue when the Monterey students travel to Nanao later this year. The visitors received their first introduction to Monterey shortly after arriving at Monterey High School, walking with their hosts to Sister City Park and gathering for photographs beside the sign honoring Nanao — a fitting beginning for a week devoted to bringin...

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