Skip to main content

Japanese Olympic Distance Running Preview - Women`s 3000m Steeplechase

by Brett Larner

Women`s 3000 m SC

Minori Hayakari
Born: Nov. 29, 1972, Kyoto
Team Affiliation: Kyoto Koka AC
Olympic Event PB: 9:33.93, 7/20/08 – NR
Season Highlights:
-NR, 3000m SC: 9:33.93, 7/20/08
-National Champion, 3000m SC: 9:48.43, 6/28/08
Career Highlights:
-NR, 3000m SC: 9:33.93, 2008
-NR, 2000m: 5:53.70, 2002
-Former NR, 3000m SC: 9:38.68, 2007
-Former NR, AR, 3000m SC, 9:41.21, 2005 (broke NR 3 times in 2005)
-National Champion, 3000m SC, 2006-2008
-National Champion, 800m and 1500m, 1996
-World T&F Championships, 3000m SC, 2005, 2007
-World T&F Championships, 3000m, 1991
-World XC Championships, 1990, 1991, 2002, 2005, 2006
-World Indoor T&F Championships, 1500m, 1999

Minori Hayakari comes to the Beijing Olympics as something of an anomaly in Japanese women`s distance running. After early-career success in the 3000m, in which she competed at the World Championships as a teenager, she switched focus in her mid-20’s to the 800 m and 1500 m. Once hitting her 30`s she again changed discipline, this time focusing on the 3000m steeplechase, a relatively minor event in Japan. Beginning in 2005 Hayakari launched an era of steeplechase domination, setting the then-Asian record and multiple national records, winning the National Championships three years running, and competing in the World Championships. A memorable fall at the 2007 Osaka World Championships ended her hopes of medaling on home ground, but Hayakari approaches Beijing in the best shape of her life, fresh from another National Championships victory followed a few weeks later by taking nearly 5 seconds off her own national record, all while nearly 36 years old. It is unlikely that she will be in contention for a medal in the Olympics, but Hayakari has yet to show signs of peaking in ability and a performance near her best is possible.

© 2008 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
photo from Rikuren archive
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most-Read This Week

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Hakone Ekiden

The Hakone Ekiden is the world's biggest road race, 2 days of road relay action with Japan's 20 best university teams racing 10 half marathon-scale legs from central Tokyo to the mountains east of Mount Fuji and back. The level just keeps going higher and higher , hitting the point this year where there are teams with 10-runner averages of 13:33.10 for 5000 m, 27:55.98 for 10000 m, and 1:01:20 for the half marathon. It's never been better, and with great weather in the forecast it's safe to say this could be one of the best races in Hakone's 102-year history, especially on Day One. If you've seen it then you know NTV's live broadcast is the best sports broadcast in the world, with the pre-race show kicking off at 7:00 a.m. Japan time on the 2nd and 3rd and the race starting at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If you've got a VPN you should be able to watch it on TVer starting at 7:50 a.m. on the 2nd , and again at 7:50 a.m. on the 3rd . There's even a 2-hour high...
3 comments
Read more

Nagoya Asian Games Test Event Canceled After Insulation Falls From Venue Ceiling

A section of insulation material fell from the ceiling of Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, the official venue for squash competition at September's Nagoya Asian Games. There were no injuries, but the city suspended use of the arena until its safety could be guaranteed, resulting in the cancelation of the Asian Games squash test event which was scheduled to have begun on May 14. It is not yet clear whether the arena will be usable for the Asian Games as planned. According to city officials, arena staff found that the insulation material had fallen onto a work walkway 13 m above the ground on the night of May 11. The fallen material was 3.6 m long, 50 cm wide and 2.5 km thick, and was found to be waterlogged. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is possible that it was caused by rainwater leaking in from the roof. The same insulation material is installed across the entire ceiling, and the city plans to check for the extent of the possible flooding. Asked whether the arena will be re...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shikama and Njeri Win Sendai International Half Marathon

Shunsuke Shikama (Logisteed) and Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) won the Sendai International Half Marathon Sunday in Sendai, Shikama in 1:01:31 and Njeri in 1:09:20. Mizuki Nishimura (Tenmaya) was the top Japanese woman at 2nd overall. The men's race went through 5 km in 14:34 and 10 km in 29:22. Shikama ran alongside top competition including Shoki Yamaguchi (Soka Univ.), who has been running well in half marathons this season, and Tokyo World Championships marathon team member Naoki Koyama (Honda). On a course with many small ups and downs, Shikama attacked on a downhill just after 15 km, quickly breaking free of the lead group of 7. 13 seconds up by 20 km, Shikama covered the last 1.0975 km in 3:06 to seal his first Sendai title. A graduate of Juntendo University , Shikama is in his 4th season with Logisteed. At the 2024 National Corporate Half Marathon he ran 1:00:41, and at last year's East Japan Corporate Ekiden he won the Third Stage. In his marathon d...
Post a Comment
Read more