japan running news

In maybe the most competitive event so far at the 2026 National High School Championships , Chihiro Obata (Iida H.S.) took the win in the boys' 5000 m race walk in 20:07.28 by 3 seconds over Yuki Kaida (Chuodai Yokohama H.S.) and other 3 seconds over Koya Hayashi (Tosu Kogyo H.S.) - 20:13.12. Right behind Hayashi, the next 3 were all under 20:17 and 2 more under 20:28, with almost everyone in the top 15 clocking a new PB. Impressive given the hot and humid summer conditions. Girls' 3000 m winner Mirriam Njeri (Sendai Ikuei H.S.) also impressed, putting 7 seconds on Nami Kawakami (Nagano Higashi H.S.) to win in 9:02.42. Other winners included Yui Yoshinaga (Nagasaki Nichidai H.S.), 11.57 (+0.7) in the girls' 100 m, Sekito Matsushita (Shizuoka H.S.), 10.27 (+0.7) in the boys' 100 m, Nana Ishihara (Hakuodai Ashikaga H.S.), 6.31 m (+1.1) in the girls' long jump, and Rinoa Akagi (Shigakudai Kagawa Nishi H.S.), 50.35 m for the win in the girls' javelin throw. ...

The 2026 National High School Championships started Thursday in Otsu, Shiga. Finals on the opening day were limited to boys' events, with Rintaro Sasho (Bunan H.S.) taking the high jump with a 2.07 m clearance and Issa Matsumoto (Morimura Gakuen H.S.) the javelin throw at 64.77 m. Reon Kitamura got Kyoto's Rakunan H.S. off to a good start, leading Day 1 of the boys' octathlon by 21 points with a score of 3157. Rakunan also did well in the boys' 1500 m heats, with 3 runners, Koki Ishihara , Kain Inagaki and Yuma Tanaka , making the final. Sota Iihoshi (Chinen Gakuen H.S.) was the fastest qualifier with a 3:48.23 to lead Heat 2, while Taro Yoshida (Tottori Johoku H.S.) and Yuki Kita (Tokushima Kagaku Gijitsu H.S.) advanced on protest after a collision in Heat 1. Kana Inoue (Yamagata Johoku H.S.) led the girls' 1500 m final qualifiers in 4:23.01 in Heat 3. Joto H.S. was the only school to advance more than one runner, with Riona Tateishi and Sarina Tateishi ...