Tuesday's Oda Memorial Meet in Hiroshima was the biggest action of the holiday, with what was probably the biggest result of the day coming in the men's 3000 mSC. With an aggressive middle 1000 m and a last kick for the win, Yutaro Niinae (Aisan Kogyo) solidified his position as Japan's 2nd-best steepler with a career 2nd-best 8:25.43 to beat teammate Philemon Kiplagat by just 0.44. Niinae will represent Japan at next month's Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
Other meet highlights:
- Hitomi Nakajima (Hasegawa) and Chisato Kiyoyama (Ichigo) had breakthrough runs in the women's 100 mH final, going 1-2 in all-time Japanese #5 and #6 times of 12.93 and 12.94 (+1.8). 9 of Japan's 10 all-time best have now run their times since 2021. Tatsuki Abe (Juntendo Univ.) took the men's 110 mH final in 13.36 (+1.9).
- Australian Tess Kisropp-Cole set a meet record 2:02.74 to win the women's 800 m, with Ellie Sanford 2nd in 2:03.05 over 3 seconds ahead of top Japanese Ayano Shiomi (Iwatani Sangyo).
- Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) saved it all for the last 200 m, out kicking leader Ririka Hironaka (Japan Post) and Agnes Mwikali (Kyocera) for the women's 5000 m A-heat win in 15:17.93. B-heat winner Jecinta Nyokabi (Denso) probably belonged in the A-heat, winning by over 20 seconds in 15:35.85.
- Shunsuke Yoshii (Chuo Univ.) won the men's 5000 m A-heat in 13:26.31, with the top 5 all clearing 13:30.
- Margaret Muthoni (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) set a meet record in the West Japan junior women's 3000 m, running 9:12.34. 2nd and 3rd-placers Nodoka Ashida (Ritsumeikan Uji H.S.) and Rin Setoguchi (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) both cleared 9:20 too, with the top 6 under 9:30.
- Former men's 100 m NR holder Yoshihide Kiryu (Nihon Seimei) ran 10.06 (+2.7) to win his semifinal, but the final went to Naoki Inoue (Waseda Univ.) in 10.12 (+0.4), with Rikuto Higuchi (Suzuki) 2nd in 10.14 and Kiryu 3rd in 10.15.
- Arisa Kimishima (DKS) won the women's 100 m final in 11.42 (+1.8) in a photo finish with Australian Mia Gross, who closed fast after a slow start but came just short of the win.
- Yuta Sakiyama (Ehime T&F Assoc.) had a good one in the men's javelin throw, winning with a last throw of 82.96 m.
The weekend's 320th Nittai University Time Trials meet also had some big results in its top heats.
- James Mutuku (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) won a fast men's 10000 m A-heat in 27:20.79, with the top 3 under 27:25 and top 10 under 28 minutes. Tatsuhiko Ito (Honda) was the top Japanese man at 27:34.98, with teammate Toru Kubota 10th in 27:50.12. Sub-61 collegiate half marathoner Reishi Yoshida made his debut in the Honda uniform, last in 28:56.15.
- The men's 5000 m A-heat was just off the level at the Oda Memorial, Daniel Kosen (Fujitsu) taking the win in 13:32.91 and the top 4 under 13:35 including Fujitsu's Hiroki Matsueda.
- 2:05:12 marathoner Yohei Ikeda (Kao) was back in action in the men's 1500 m A-heat, just 0.45 off his PB in 2nd in 3:46.03 behind Akira Soga (Seishin JAC), winner in 3:44.36.
- Yvonne Jepchirchir Chepkosgei (Higo Ginko) won the women's 5000 m A-heat in 15:30.88, Tokyo World Championships team member Yuka Ando (Shimamura) 2nd in 15:44.01.
- Caroline Kariba (Japan Post) took the women's 3000 m A-heat with a solid 8:57.92.
© 2025 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
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