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Nishihara Over Kojima for Silver in 5000 m - World University Games Day Five

by Brett Larner

2009 World University Games women's 10000 m gold medalist Kasumi Nishihara of Bukkyo University came back for more on the last day of women's distance competition, outrunning Ritsumeikan University rival Kazue Kojima to take silver in the 5000 m on July 11. Russian Natalia Medvedeva led through the first kilometer before eventual winner Sara Moreira of Portugal took over, running away to a 15:32.78 victory. Nishihara was a distant 2nd in 15:46.95, outkicking Medvedeva who took the bronze in 15:49.60.

Kojima, who was undefeated in domestic university competition coming into her senior year, was never a factor as she finished only 7th in a weak 16:03.45. With Nishihara having broken Kojima's 5000 m PB earlier in the season it looks as through the pair are set for a great series of duels over their final year of university competition.

In other track events, men's 800 m national champion Masato Yokota advance to the finals, as did the men's 4x400 m relay squad anchored by World University Games 400 m gold medalist Yuzo Kanemaru. The men's 4x100 m team, a favorite for a medal, had no so luck as they were eliminated after dropping the baton.

On the field, men's pole vaulter Takafumi Suzuki finished 8th overall, while men's long jumper Yasuyuki Horiike advanced to the next round.

2009 World University Games - Top Finishers
click event headers for complete results
Women's 5000 m
1. Sara Moreira (Portugal) - 15:32.78
2. Kasumi Nishihara (Bukkyo Univ.) - 15:46.95
3. Natalia Medvedeva (Russia) - 15:49.60
-----
7. Kazue Kojima (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 16:03.45

Men's 800 m - Semifinals
1. Vitalij Kozlov (Lithuania) - 1:49.06
2. Sajad Moradi (Iran) - 1:49.07
3. Walid Meliani (Algeria) - 1:49.11
-----
12. Masato Yokota (Japan) - 1:50.07

Men's 4x400 m Relay - Heat 1
1. Japan (Hideyuki Hirose - Yusuke Ishitsuka - Kazuaki Yoshida - Yuzo Kanemaru) - 3:08.38
2. Denmark - 3:09.49
3. Algeria - 3:09.67

Men's 4x100 m Relay - Heat 1
DSQ - Japan (Masashi Eriguchi - Shintaro Kimura - Mitsuhiro Abiko - Hitoshi Saito)

Men's Pole Vault - Final
1. Alexander Gripich (Russia) - 5.60
2. Giorgio Piantella (Italy) - 5.55
3. Henrik Gruber (Germany) - 5.45
-----
8. Takafumi Suzuki (Japan) - 5.25

Men's Long Jump - Qualifying Round
1. Xiongfeng Su (China) - 7.98
2. Marcin Starzak (Poland) - 7.83
3. Deok Hyeon Kim (South Korea) - 7.82
-----
6. Yasuyuki Horiike (Japan) - 7.66

(c) 2009 Brett Larner
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