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East Japan Corporate Ekiden English Commentary

For the time being I'll be using this post for English commentary on today's East Japan Jitsugyodan Ekiden Championships. Reload article to see updates. Race broadcast starts at 1:55 p.m. Japan time. Click here to watch TBS' broadcast online.
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Brett Larner said…
1st stage 11.6 km. Bene Zama, Team Nissin Shokuhin - #3 wearing sunglasses, won the stage last year in 33:52 but is sitting in back right now.
November 3, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Brett Larner said…
Guest announcer is Katsuhiko Hanada, Olympian and Jobu Univ. head coach. Women's race is about to start. Men through 1k in 2:50, then sudden pace down. Approaching 5 k in over 16 min, JAL's Anzai lost patience and just took off suddenly. Nissin's Zama went after him along with Konica-Minolta.
November 3, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Brett Larner said…
Women's team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo going for 10th str. E. Jpn win. Lost Nationals to Toyota Jidoshoki last year. Mitsui's Yoko Shibui still injured, not running along with two other key members.
November 3, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Brett Larner said…
1st stage 6.795 km for women. 1500m national champ Mika Yoshikawa running for Panasonic, #9. 1st km 3:26.
November 3, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Brett Larner said…
Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo's Ohira running 3rd stage. Ohira will be in the Yokohama Int'l Women's Marathon in 2 weeks.
November 3, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Brett Larner said…
Not sure what has happened to the men's race. More updates when they're available.

Mitsui's Yamashita doing all the work up front in the women's race, but everyone is still together.
November 3, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Brett Larner said…
15 teams in the lead pack. Don't see Zama. Konica-Minolta almost went down.
November 3, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Brett Larner said…
2nd stage includes 5000m NR holder Takayuki Matsumiya and 27:38 10k guy Yuki Sato.
November 3, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Brett Larner said…
Yakult's Sato attacking with Zama and Kanebo runner right behind.
November 3, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Brett Larner said…
Fujitsu makes a break with Zama
November 3, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Brett Larner said…
1. Nissin
2.JAL
3. Fujitsu
4. Honda
5. Kanebo
6. Konica Minolta
7. Komori
8. Yakult
9. JR Higashi
November 3, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Brett Larner said…
Top 14 men's teams qualify for New Year Ekiden.

2nd stage 15.1 km

Yuki Sato (Nissin) leads pack of 5. WC marathoner Satoshi Irifune (Kanebo) running 6th. Matsumiya (KonMin) 5th.
November 3, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Brett Larner said…
Yoshikawa and three others off back of pack in women's race.
November 3, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Brett Larner said…
Yuko Shimizu (Sekisui Kagaku) battling Yamashita (MitSum) up front.
November 3, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Brett Larner said…
Pack down to six w/300m to go.
November 3, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Brett Larner said…
Katsumata (DaiSei) and Univ. Ent. leading charge.
November 3, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Brett Larner said…
1. Uni. Ent.
2. Sek. Kag.
3. Dai. Sei.
4. Mits. Sum.
5. Nihon Chemi.
November 3, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Brett Larner said…
2nd stage 3.15k for women.

Universal Entertainment (Aruze)'s Felista Wanjugu leading.
November 3, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Brett Larner said…
Nat'l Champ Toyota Jidoshoki's Aoyama trying to run down Kenyan Wanjugu.
November 3, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Brett Larner said…
Tanaka of SekKag also overtaking Wanjugu.
November 3, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Brett Larner said…
Niiya, Ohira, Akaba (?) on 3rd stage for women.

Aoyama (ToyJid) way out front. Tanaka and Wanjugu together for 2-3.
November 3, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Brett Larner said…
Foreigners restricted to stage 2 (shortest) and 4 for women. Philes Ongori (Hokuren) running stage 4 after Akaba.
November 3, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Brett Larner said…
1. Toyota Jidoshoki
2. Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo
3. Nihon Chemicon
4. Univ.Ent.
5. SekisuiKag
6. Shimamura
7. Starts
8. Hokuren
9. Daiichi Seimei
10. Shiseido
November 3, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Brett Larner said…
3rd Stage (Wm) - 11.95 km

Hitomi Niiya (ToyJid) has big lead. Chased by Ohira (MitSum), Akaba (Hokuren).

Akaba already moved up from 8th to 5th. Less than 10 sec to Ohira (2nd).
November 3, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Brett Larner said…
Niiya through 2km in 6:30.

2nd - Ohira, Mitsui Sumitomo
3rd - Nasukawa, Univ. Ent.
November 3, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Brett Larner said…
Yuko Sato (Nissin) way out in front in men's race. 22, ran 27:38 this spring in CA, 3rd-fastest Japanese mark ever.

2nd Honda - Ishikawa
3rd KonMin - Matsumiya
November 3, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Brett Larner said…
JAL in 4th.

Irifune (Kanebo) leads 2nd pack, Fujitsu out of contact.
November 3, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Brett Larner said…
Akaba (Hokuren), Nojiri (DaiSei) Saito (Shimamura) trying to run down Ohira (MitSum) and Nasukawa (UniEnt).
November 3, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Brett Larner said…
Niiya overtook last place men's team Yokogawa.
November 3, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Brett Larner said…
Nojiri, in yellow, was a pro XC skiier until just over a year ago when she started running.
November 3, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Brett Larner said…
Yuki Sato untouchable. Fujitsu's Fukui in trouble. Yakult also out of contention.
November 3, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Brett Larner said…
Sato was left off the WC team despite running the 27:38. Possibly connected to Athletics Kenya banning Nissin's Gideon Ngatuny from the WC team and asking Rikuren to take action against Nissin for letting Gideon run the Sapporo Half Marathon.
November 3, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Brett Larner said…
Akaba not looking great. Ran badly in WC marathon and at World Half last month.
November 3, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Brett Larner said…
Matsumiya blows by rest of chase pack, now including Tokyo Denryoku's Wakamatsu, part of 2009 Hakone Ekiden winner Toyo's squad before grad.
November 3, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Brett Larner said…
3rd stage--

Foreigner stage. Sato hands off to Gideon Ngatuny. Honda's Yacob Jarso getting ready.
Konica Minolta 2nd.
JAL 3rd.
4th Tokyo Denryoku.
5th Honda.
November 3, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Brett Larner said…
Daniel Njenga (Yakult) is away in 10th.
November 3, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Brett Larner said…
9.5 km for 3rd stage. Foreigners again restricted to shortest legs to minimize their advantage over Japanese runners.

Yacob Jarso (Honda) going after Ngatuny.
November 3, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Brett Larner said…
Niiya 32:57 through 10 km. Headwind. Nasukawa sticking behind Ohira.

Nojiri dropped off chase pack. Akaba and Saitoh battling.
November 3, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Brett Larner said…
Saitoh (Shimamura) breaks down Akaba (Hokuren) and gets away in 4th.
November 3, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Brett Larner said…
1. Toyota Jidoshoki
2. Mits. Sum. +0:26
3. Univ. Ent. +0:30
4. Hokuren +0:59
5. Shimamura +1:07
6. Daiichi Seimei +1:20

Philes Ongori is away. Good chance for Hokuren to take the lead.
November 3, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Brett Larner said…
WC marathoner Fujinaga ran 3rd leg for Shiseido.
November 3, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Brett Larner said…
4th Stage (Wm.) - 4.0 km. Foreigners allowed again.
November 3, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Brett Larner said…
Ongori 3:01 for 1st km. About to catch MitSum and UnivEnt.
November 3, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Brett Larner said…
Ongori in 2nd comfortably but not enough time left to catch Toyota Jidoshoki for lead.
November 3, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Brett Larner said…
Current 5th place women Shimamura's parent company is this broadcast's main sponsor, hence the unbalance in women's coverage.

Whoa, Ongori just squeezes by for the lead.

Wakita, Sahaku, Osaki etc. on 5th stage.
November 3, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Brett Larner said…
That was Doricah Obare of Hitachi finishing up.
November 3, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Brett Larner said…
5th stage 10.0 km for women. Wakita (ToyJid) vs. Nejo (Hokuren). Sizeable lead.
November 3, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Brett Larner said…
I guess we're not going to get to see the result of the Jarso-Ngatuny battle.
November 3, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Brett Larner said…
Chisato Osaki (MitSum) passes Yukari Sahaku (UnivEnt) for 3rd. Sahaku has been out of form since Nat'l T&F in June.
November 3, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Brett Larner said…
Wakita ran 10k at 2007 WC but was injured last year. Now leading Hokuren's Nejo. Toyota Jidoshoki has excellent runners left, but Hokuren has used its best two.
November 3, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Brett Larner said…
The men's race:

Gideon leads by a minute and a half. Jarso doing his best.

26 min guy Ndambiri (Komori) in 8th, has passed 5 people, about to take Subaru. Njenga (Yakult) close behind.
November 3, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Brett Larner said…
Nissin has had excellent recruitment the last two years. Many good guys on their team haven't run yet.
November 3, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Brett Larner said…
Nejo sticking to superior Wakita.
November 3, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Brett Larner said…
Announcers just called the men's 3rd stage "The foreigner stage."

Gideon handing off to 28:00 10k guy Satoru Kitamura.
November 3, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Brett Larner said…
Honda 2nd +54
3rd JAL +1;44
4th KonMIn+1:46

Kanebo 5th - pro debut of univ. 1/2 mar record holder Masato Kihara.
November 3, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Brett Larner said…
Press Kogyo 14th
Shinden Kogyo 15th, 15 sec. behind Press. Top 14 make New Year Ekiden.

Ikegami running for Honda.
November 3, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Brett Larner said…
4th stage (men) 9.8 km.
November 3, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Brett Larner said…
Women's race: Wakita gapping Nego. Sahaku sticking to Osaki for 3rd-4th.
November 3, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Brett Larner said…
Shinden has caught Press for 14th.
November 3, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Brett Larner said…
If Press makes New Year it will be first time. If Shinden makes it it will be first time in 37 years.
November 3, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Brett Larner said…
Women: Wakita has safe lead. Nejo is pain. Sahaku passed Osaki on uphill. 1 km to go.
November 3, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Brett Larner said…
6th Stage - 6.3 km (anchor)

1. Toyota Jidoshoki
2. Hokuren +0:37
3. Mits. Sumi. + 0:47
4. Univ. Ent. +0:51
5. Dai. Sei. +1:25

No Yoshimi Ozaki for DaiSei.
November 3, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Brett Larner said…
Acom 5th stage runner Kayoko Obata is 38.
November 3, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Brett Larner said…
Toyota Jidoshoki looks pretty safe for the win to break Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo's 9-yr streak. Toyota Jidoshoki and Universal Entertainment are coached by Yoshio Koide.
November 3, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Brett Larner said…
Konica Minolta and JAL have chance to take Honda for 2nd in men's race. Nissin Shokuhin's Kitamura still way out front with 200 m to go.
November 3, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Brett Larner said…
5th Stage

1. Nissin Shokuhin
2. Honda +1:51
3. Konica Minolta +1:58
4. JAL +2:07
5. Kanebo +4:48
6. Yakult +4:50
7. Tokyo Denryoku +4:51
November 3, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Brett Larner said…
Nat'l champ Fujitsu 12th, 6:53 behind lead.

Shinden 14th, Press 15th +26 seconds behind Shinden.
November 3, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Brett Larner said…
Konica Minolta's Yamamoto, in 3rd, was part of Toyo Univ.'s 2009 Hakone Ekiden-winning team.
November 3, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Brett Larner said…
Yukie Nagata of Toyota Jidoshoki safe for the win.
November 3, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Brett Larner said…
University star Kazue Kojima will join Toyota Jidoshoki next year according to announced Akemi Masuda.
November 3, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Brett Larner said…
1. Toyota Jidoshoki - 2:20:18
2. Hokuren - 2:20:38
3. Universal Ent. - 2:20:56
4. Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo - 2:21:11
November 3, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Brett Larner said…
5th - Daiichi Seimei - 2:21:55

Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo loses 9-yr winning streak. First East Japan win for Toyota Jidoshoki.
November 3, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Brett Larner said…
Back to the men:

Nissin Shokuhin 2:08 guy Yuzo Onishi running 6th leg - 10.6 km. Safe lead over Honda. Konica Minolta gaining on Honda.
November 3, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Brett Larner said…
Nissin anchor Kosaka Hoshina won the 7th stage (13.5 km) last year in 39:22.

2nd - Honda +1:57
3rd - Konica Minolta +2:00
4th - JAL +3:02
5th - Kanebo +5:18
6th - Tokyo Denryoku +6:17
7th - Subaru - 6:34
8th - JR Higashi - +6:53
9th - Yakult - +6:53
November 3, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Brett Larner said…
2:06:51 marathoner Atsushi Fujita ran 6th stage for Fujitsu.
November 3, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Brett Larner said…
Konica Minolta's Kurosaki (2008 Toyo grad) goes into 2nd past Honda.
November 3, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Brett Larner said…
12 teams get the white sash start - 10 min after leader. 2 of them will qualify for the New Year Ekiden. There are so many that they didn't have enough sashes.
November 3, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Brett Larner said…
Hoshina's been having Achilles tendon trouble but seems to be in one piece. Nobody else in sight. Kurosaki (KonMin) leading Fujiwara (Honda).
November 3, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Brett Larner said…
Hoshina has it wrapped up.
November 3, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Brett Larner said…
Nissin's first five runners all clocked stage best times.
November 3, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Brett Larner said…
1. Nissin Shokuhin - 3:48:31
2. Honda - 3:50:05
3. Konica Minolta - 3:50:22
4. JAL Ground Service - 3:52:24
5. Kanebo - 3:55:13
6. Subaru - 3:55:47
7. Tokyo Denryoku - 3:55:48
8. JR Higashi Nihon - 3:56:02
9. Fujitsu - 3:56:13
November 3, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Brett Larner said…
Press Kogyo came in 13th but has to wait for the time add from the white sash start to see if it made its first-ever New Year Ekiden.
November 3, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Brett Larner said…
Shinden comes in 16th, but also has to wait for the time add.
November 3, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Brett Larner said…
Press makes it in along with the Self-Defense Force Academy team. Shiden misses out on its first New Year Ekiden in over 30 years.

And that's all for today.
November 3, 2009 at 4:53 PM
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