Wanjiru and Kipkemei Take 10000 m Titles - National University Championships Day 1

Usually held in September right before ekiden season, this year's National University Track and Field Championships moved to early June to avoid conflicts with the Tokyo World Championships.

Doubling up on her solo 10000 m win a month ago at Kanto Regionals, Sarah Wanjiru lapped the entire field to win the women's 10000 m in 31:48.44. That was 16 seconds under the old meet record set by fellow Daito Bunka University runner and future Olympic 6th-placer Yuka Suzuki, and missed Wanjiru's PB by just over a second. Less than a second separated the next 3 finishers, with newcomer Mei Hosomi from Meijo University getting 2nd in 33:23.46, Wanjiru's DBU teammate Mariya Noda 3rd in 33:23.77, and Asahi Shirakawa from Tsukuba University off the podium in 33:24.17.

Less than 2 weeks after rocking a 27:29.15 for 2nd in the National University Ekiden Kanto Region Qualifier 10000 m, Nihon University's Shadrack Kipkemei found himself in another close race, this one against Kanto Regionals D2 winner Stephen Muthini from Soka University and collegiate marathon record holder Asahi Kuroda of Aoyama Gakuin University. This time Kipkemei had the wheels for the win, taking 1st in 28:07.94 over Muthini's 28:08.43 with Kuroda just back in 28:09.18 for 3rd. Soka and AGU runners filled the front end of the field, taking 2nd through 6th and 8th place.

The only other finals on the opening day of the meet were the women's and men's javelin throws. Sayuka Kurata of Keio University won the women's title with a second throw of 57.20 m, Momoko Tsuji of Kyushu Kyoritsu University and Aoi Murakami of Nittai University closing with their biggest throws but still a meter and a half behind Kurata. KKU's Rin Suzuki took the men's title with a 76.58 m throw on his 2nd attempt. Nobody else cleared 73 m.

The National University Track and Field Championships continue through Sunday.

94th National University Track and Field Championships

Day One Highlights

JFE Harenokuni Stadium, Okayama, 5 June 2025

complete results

Women's 10000 m Final

1. Sarah Wanjiru (3rd yr., Daito Bunka Univ.) - 31:48.44 - MR

2. Mei Hosomi (1st yr., Meijo Univ.) - 33:23.46

2. Mariya Noda (3rd yr., Daito Bunka Univ.) - 33:23.77

4. Asahi Shirakawa (2nd yr., Tsukuba Univ.) - 33:24.17

5. Asuka Ishimatsu (4th yr., Meijo Univ.) - 33:28.35

6. Yume Miyake (2nd yr., Takushoku Univ.) - 33:32.90

7. Amisa Murayama (3rd yr., Tohoku Fukushi Univ.) - 33:35.17

8. Ayaka Maeda (3rd yr., Kansai Univ.) - 33:46.50

9. Wakana Hashimoto (1st yr., Meijo Univ.) - 33:51.36

10. Nanaka Miyahara (4th yr., Fukuoka Univ.) - 33:51.36

Men's 10000 m Final

1. Shadrack Kipkemei (3rd yr., Nihon Univ.) - 28:07.94

2. Stephen Muthini (3rd yr., Soka Univ.) - 28:08.43

3. Asahi Kuroda (4th yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:09.18

4. Riku Anjima (2nd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:35.06

5. Junna Ishimaru (4th yr., Soka Univ.) - 28:47.86

6. Shoki Yamaguchi (2nd yr., Soka Univ.) - 28:53.20

7. So Kawasaki (3rd yr., Tsukuba Univ.) - 29:13.09

8. Taisei Endo (2nd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 29:13.59

9. Yuga Sakurai (4th yr., Josai Univ.) - 29:15.17

10. Ryosuke Yamamoto (4th yr., Kantaiheiyo Univ.) - 29:23.64

Women's Javelin Throw Final

1. Sayuka Kurata (3rd yr., Keio Univ.) - 57.20 m

2. Momoko Tsuji (4th yr., Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ.) - 55.70 m

3. Aoi Murakami (4th yr., Nittai Univ.) - 55.68 m

Men's Javelin Throw Final

1. Rin Suzuki (1st yr., Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ. Grad School) - 76.58 m

2. Sota Takemura (4th yr., Chukyo Univ.) - 72.68 m

3. Kota Yamada (4th yr., Tokai Univ.) - 71.28 m

Updates on Transfers

April 1 is the start of Japan's new academic and fiscal year, and there's always a wave of transfer announcements to go with it. Some notable ones yesterday: 800 m NR holder Rin Kubo skipped university to go straight to 2023 Queens Ekiden national champion Sekisui Kagaku after her graduation from Higashi Osaka Keiai H.S. Multiple NR holder Nozomi Tanaka rejoined the Toyota Jidoshokki women's team after having left it to pursue a solo pro career as a New Balance athlete. Already on the team for this fall's Nagoya Asian Games in the 10000 m, Ririka Hironaka announced a switch from her longtime home at Japan Post to the Uniqlo women's team. Collegiate marathon record holder Asahi Kuroda joined the 2026 national champion GMO corporate team after graduating from 2026 Hakone Ekiden champ Aoyama Gakuin University last week. Hakone Ekdien First Stage CR holder Rui Aoki joins the Sumitomo Denko corporate team after running his final race for 2025 Izumo Ekiden w...

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