Mara Yamauchi and Takashi Ota Win Ome 30 km Road Race

by Brett Larner

Mara Yamauchi (GBR) continued her return from the injuries that kept her out of last summer's World Championships and the fall marathon season win a 1:43:24 win at the classic 2010 Ome 30 km Road Race in the mountains west of Tokyo on Feb. 21. Yamauchi pulled away from veteran Hiromi Ominami (Team Toyota Shatai) just before 15 km and steadily lengthened her lead over the hills in the middle section of the course. Up by 48 seconds at 25 km, Yamauchi ran 17:30 for the final 5 km to Ominami's 17:07, finally winning by a margin of just 25 seconds. Kiyoko Shimahara (Second Wind A.C.) ran most of the race in 4th place behind little-known Saori Makishima (Canon A.C. Kyushu) but had a strong last 5 km to take 3rd. Makishima went on to DNF. Yamauchi's win adds to her three titles in Ome's 10 km over the last four years.

The men's 30 km was a blowout as 2006 Ome winner Takashi Ota (Team Konica Minolta) frontran his way to a repeat victory in 1:31:54. With at least three of the other invited athletes sitting the race out, nobody even attempted to go with Ota. Four runners ran together in a chase pack behind Ota, among them American Patrick Rizzo. The pack stayed together through 25 km but when the pace accelerated on the flat final 5 km Yusuke Kitaoka (Team Otsuka Seiyaku) emerged to take 2nd in 1:34:36. Rizzo was just 9 seconds back in 1:34:45. Down by one minute at 25 km, Kenji Onaka (Team NTT Nishi Nihon) had a strong finish as he overtook Ryotaro Nitta (Team Konica Minolta) for 5th.

In the women's 10 km, Yuko Machida (Team Nihon ChemiCon) took her first win after two runner-up placings, outrunning a pack of four to finish in 33:40. Eisuke Shioda (Kugayama H.S.) won the men's 10 km in 30:50.

2010 Ome 30 km - Top Finishers
click here for complete results
Women
1. Mara Yamauchi (GBR) - 1:43:24
2. Hiromi Ominami (Team Toyota Shatai) - 1:43:49
3. Kiyoko Shimahara (Second Wind A.C.) - 1:49:14
4. Mizuho Kishi (Team Yamada Denki) - 1:52:15
5. Chie Asami (Hachioji H.S.) - 2:01:34

Men
1. Takashi Ota (Team Konica Minolta) - 1:31:54
2. Yusuke Kataoka (Team Otsuka Seiyaku) - 1:34:36
3. Patrick Rizzo (U.S.A.) - 1:34:45
4. Koji Sato (Team NTT Nishi Nihon) - 1:35:07
5. Kenji Onaka (Team NTT Nishi Nihon) - 1:35:38

10 km - Top Finishers
Women
1. Yuko Machida (Team Nihon ChemiCon) - 33:40
2. Megumi Kanetomo (Team Yamada Denki) - 33:52
3. Misato Yamaguchi (Team Yamada Denki) - 33:55

Men
1. Eisuke Shioda (Kugayama H.S.) - 30:50
2. Akira Kasahara (Takuichi H.S.) - 31:00
3. Toshiya Suzuki (Takuichi H.S.) - 31:04

(c) 2010 Brett Larner
all rights reserved

Federation Tells World Championships Marathoner Horibata To Go On Diet

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20110307-OHT1T00258.htm translated by Brett Larner Having made the 2011 World Championships marathon team by running a PB of 2:09:25 to come in 3rd overall and as the top Japanese finisher at the Mar. 6 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, Hiroyuki Horibata (24, Team Asahi Kasei), talked to the media at Osaka Airport on Mar. 7. Following Sunday's race Rikuren director Keisuke Sawaki , 67, told Horibata, "Let's cut things down a bit until the World Championships," directing him to go on a diet. The 189 cm Horibata weighs 72 kg [~6'3", 160 lbs]. When he joined Team Asahi Kasei in 2005 at age 18 he weighed 65 kg, and this weight is still generally listed on his profile at races and in the media. "For some reason it never changes," he said with a grin. His coach Takeshi Soh , 58, commented, "If he was hungrier for glory his world would change completely," slapping the 'heavyweight division runner...

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...

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...

japan running news

Search This Blog