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Ritsumeikan's Nishino Wins Kansai Div. I Half-Marathon

http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/article.php?mid=P2009043000234&genre=L1&area=K00

translated by Brett Larner

On the first day of western Japan's Kansai University Track and Field Championships in Osaka on Apr. 30, Division I runner Tomoya Nishino (Ritsumeikan Univ.) scored his first win in the half marathon. Nishino covered the loop course around Osaka's Nagai Park in 1:06:47 to take the win, with 2nd place finisher Yoshiki Sekitani (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.) 19 seconds back in 1:07:06. The 3rd and 4th place finishers were also from Ritsumeikan University, with six of the top eight runners hailing from Kyoto-based schools.

Division II Tanzanian exchange student Jackson Kwarai (Nara Sangyo Univ.) was the first finisher overall in 1:06:26. Kwarai was the pivotal figure in the race, with a lead group of five or six taking shape around him. When he sped up at 15 km the other runners dropped off one by one, but Nishino tried to hang on with all his might.

Many of the same athletes will run again in the remaining four days of the Kansai University Championships. The competitions on May 8th and 9th will take place in Nishikogyo Stadium, while those on the 16th and 17th will be at Nagai Stadium's secondary track.

Translator's note: Despite the wording of the article and headline, it sounds as though Kwarai actually won the race. Nishino was the top Div. I runner and most likely the top Japanese finisher.

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