Hokuren Distance Challenge Kicks Off in Shibetsu

by Brett Larner

Rain and wind greeted the first in the 2013 Hokuren Distance Challenge series June 26 in Shibetsu, Hokkaido, combining with a shortage of top-tier domestic names to produce few noteworthy results. NTN Kenyan Edward Waweru's 7:47.02 win the men's 3000 m was the most competitive run of the day, ranking him just outside the top ten worldwide this year with the Koichi Morishita-coached Jeremiah Karemi (Kenya/Team Toyota Kyushu) just behind in 7:48.31. 2012 national 5000 m champion Kazuya Deguchi (Team Asahi Kasei) was 4th in 8:06.39.

Little-known William Malel (Kenya/Team Honda), brought to Japan last year by coach Stephen Mayaka to run for tiny Sozo Gakuin University before jumping ship for the corporate leagues this year, had a win the men's 5000 m A-heat over the likes of 2011 World XC silver medalist Paul Tanui (Kenya/Team Kyudenko).

This year's 1500 m national champion Yuki Akimoto (Team Sanyo Tokushu Seiko) partially redeemed his 4:02.32 winning time at the National Championships earlier this month with a 3:47.21 win in Shibetsu, while Payton Jordan 10000 m 3rd-place Ayumi Hagiwara (Team Uniqlo) turned in the key women's result of the day, winning the 5000 m A-heat in 15:49.19.

The Hokuren Distance Challenge continues Saturday in Fukagawa with an emphasis on 10000 m. Two more meets follow in early July.

2013 Hokuren Distance Challenge Shibetsu Meet Highlights
Shibetsu, Hokkaido, 6/26/13
click here for complete results

Men's 5000 m A-Heat
1. William Malel (Kenya/Team Honda) - 13:39.01
2. Johnson Kiumbani (Kenya/Team Konica Minolta) - 13:40.29
3. Agato Yashin Hasen (Ethiopia/Team Chuo Hatsujo) - 13:43.53
4. Yuya Konishi (Team Toyota Kyushu) - 13:45.26
5. Macharia Ndirangu (Kenya/Team Aichi Seiko) - 13:46.53

Women's 5000 m A-Heat
1. Ayumi Hagiwara (Team Uniqlo) - 15:49.19
2. Yuka Ando (Team Tokinosumika) - 15:52.24
3. Misato Tanaka (Team Sysmex) - 16:00.30
4. Satomi Ueta (Team Toto) - 16:02.56
5. Michi Numata (Team Toyota Jidoshokki) - 16:05.26

Men's 3000 m
1. Edward Waweru (Kenya/Team NTN) - 7:47.02
2. Jeremiah Karemi (Kenya/Team Toyota Kyushu) - 7:48.31
3. Titus Waroru (Kenya/Team Toyota Kyushu) - 8:05.33
4. Kazuya Deguchi (Team Asahi Kasei) - 8:06.39
5. Hiroyoshi Umegae (Team NTN) - 8:09.37

Women's 3000 m A-Heat
1. Yuki Mitsunobu (Team Kyocera) - 9:14.37
2. Sairi Maeda (Bukkyo Univ.) - 9:15.58
3. Miho Shimizu (Team Hokuren) - 9:16.21
4. Sally Chepyego (Kenya/Team Kyudenko) - 9:16.88
5. Mai Ito (Team Otsuka Seiyaku) - 9:18.92

Men's 1500 m
1. Yuki Akimoto (Team Sanyo Tokushu Seiko) - 3:47.21
2. Masahiro Takaya (Team JR Higashi Nihon) - 3:47.37
3. Yusuke Takabayashi (Team Toyota) - 3:48.64

Women's 1500 m
1. Mary Waithera (Kenya/Team Toyota Jidoshokki) - 4:22.64
2. Haruka Mochizuki (Team Yutaka Giken) - 4:24.83
3. Miyuki Gokan (Team Toyota Jidoshokki) - 4:25.12

(c) 2013 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