japan running news

by Brett Larner

National record holders Minori Hayakari (Kyoto Koka AC) and Masato Yokota (Team Fujitsu) led the performances by the Japanese contingent at the July 15 Lappeenranta Games in Finland with wins in the women's 3000 m steeplechase and men's 800 m. The veteran Hayakari led start to finish after setting the race off at national record pace. For Yokota it was his second European win in less than a week, both wins clocking just off his national record.

2010 Lappeenranta Games - Top Results
click here for complete results
Men's 3000 m
1. Geoffrey Kipsang (Kenya) - 7:59.57
2. Matti Rasanen (Finland) - 8:02.18
3. Jukka Keskisalo (Finland) - 8:02.23
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6. Satoru Kitamura (Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 8:14.92

Women's 3000 mSC
1. Minori Hayakari (Kyoto Koka AC) - 9:52.10
2. Livia Toth (Hungary) - 9:54.16
3. Valeria Mara (Ukraine) - 9:54.98

Men's 1500 m
1. Kiprono Menjo (Kenya) - 3:38.40
2. Niclas Sandells (Germany) - 3:41.62
3. Mikael Bergdahl (Germany) - 3:42.53
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4. Fumikazu K…

by Brett Larner
Three-time 1500 m national champion Mika Yoshikawa (Team Panasonic) had an excellent day at the July 11 Brasschaat meet in Belgium, breaking her four year-old 5000 m PB by 11 seconds to win the women's 5000 m in 15:28.44. Steepler Hiroyoshi Umegae (Team NTN) also had a good day as he won the men's 3000 m in 8:02.09. All told, five Japanese athletes won their events at the meet. A summary of results:
2010 Brasschaat Meet - Top Results click here for complete results Women's 5000 m 1. Mika Yoshikawa (Team Panasonic) - 15:28.44 - PB 2. Freya Murray (GBR) - 15:31.17 3. Allison Grace (USA) - 15:50.00
Men's 3000 m 1. Hiroyoshi Umegae (Team NTN) - 8:02.09 2. Jordan Horn (USA) - 8:03.73 3. Steffen Iliczka (Germany) - 8:09.88
Men's 1500 m 1. Jeff See (USA) - 3:40.94 2. Wouter De Boer (Netherlands) - 3:41.12 3. Andrew Jesien (USA) - 3:41.23 ----- 8. Fumikazu Kobayashi (Team Fujitsu) - 3:41.89
Men's 1500 m B-heat 1. Hiroshi Ino (Team NTN) - 3:45.70 2. Tom Van Rooy (Belgium…