japan running news

by Brett Larner

Three Japanese national champions took part in opening-round competition on the sixth day of the Moscow World Championships.  All three crapped out.  Them's the breaks, unfortunately.

The men's 4x400 m relay team did better in its heat, delivering a season-best 3:02.43 for 4th but missing the cut to advance to the final on time, Brazil taking the slowest spot in 3:01.09.

Moscow World Championships Day Six
Moscow, 8/15/13
click here for complete results

Women's 200 m Heat Four
1. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) - 22.78 - Q
2. Elyzaveta Bryzgina (Ukraine) - 22.84 - Q
3. Kai Selvon (Trinidad and Tobago) - 23.14 - Q
4. Franciela Krasucki (Brazil) - 23.20
5. Justine Palframan (South Africa) - 23.64
6. Chisato Fukushima (Japan) - 23.85
7. Melissa Breen (Australia) - 23.95

Men's 4x400 m Relay Heat One
1. Jamaica - 3:00.41 - Q
2. Great Britain - 3:00.50 - Q
3. Venezuela - 3:02.04
4. Japan - 3:02.43
5. Dominican Republic - 3:03.61
6. Spain - 3:04.07
7. Nigeria - 3:…

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/athletics/news/f-sp-tp0-20130714-1157211.html

translated by Brett Larner

With August's Moscow World Championships drawing near, the members of the Japanese national team are building toward their sharpening phase.  While the world focues on the Diamond League, some of the Japanese team's star members will be competing domestically at the Twilight Games and National High School Championships.

The July 28 Twilight Games at Shibuya's Oda Field will feature three members of the Moscow team, Ryota Yamagata (21, Keio Univ.) and Kei Takase (24, Team Fujitsu) in the men's 100 m, with Miyuki Fukumoto (36, Konan Gakuen AC) leading the women's high jump.  Yamagata, who beat teen sensation Yoshihide Kiryu (17, Rakunan H.S.) at last month's National Championships, comes to the Twilight Games in excellent shape after winning silver at last week's World University Games.  He is a strong contender in the race for Japan's first sub-10, …