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Konica Minolta and Universal Entertainment Win Third-Straight East Japan Corporate Titles

http://www.sankei.com/sports/news/141103/spo1411030028-n1.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner

At the Nov. 3 East Japan Corporate Ekiden from Saitama to Kumagaya Sports Park Field, Konica Minolta won its third-straight and eighth overall title in the 7-stage, 77.5 km men's race in 3:49:34.  Universal Entertainment likewise won a third-straight title in 6-stage, 42.195 km women's race in 2:18:36.

Konica Minolta took the lead on the Second Stage thanks to rookie Keita Shitara, with Fifth Stage winner Hiroyuki Yamamoto opening a major lead.  Nissin Shokuhin was 2nd, with Honda 3rd.  Nanyo City Hall beat the classic Kanebo team for 13th, the last qualifying position for the Jan. 1 New Year Ekiden national corporate men's championships.

In the women's race, Universal Entertainment anchor Mizuho Nasukawa shook off Daiichi Seimei's Sakiko Matsumi for the win after the pair started almost even.  Daiichi Seimei took 2nd, with Panasonic 3rd.  The top 10 qualified for the Dec. 14 National Corporate Women's Ekiden.  The Shiseido team finished only 13th.

East Japan Corporate Ekiden
Saitama, 11/3/14

Men
55th running
24 teams, 7 stages, 77.5 km
click here for complete results

Top Team Performances
1. Konica Minolta - 3:49:34
2. Nissin Shokuhin Group - 3:50:18
3. Honda - 3:51:17
4. Fujitsu - 3:52:43
5. Yakult - 3:53:21
6. Press Kogyo - 3:54:22
7. Komori Corporation - 3:54:48
8. DeNA - 3:55:10
9. Hitachi Butsuryu - 3:55:24
10. Subaru - 3:55:51
11. Yachiyo Kogyo - 3:56:59
12. JR Higashi Nihon - 3:57:26
13. Nanyo City Hall - 3:59:36
----- top thirteen qualify for New Year Ekiden national championship
14. Kanebo - 4:01:25
15. Tokyo Police Department - 4:02:51

Stage Best Performances
First Stage - 11.6 km: Yuichiro Ueno (DeNA) - 33:30
Second Stage - 15.3 km: Keita Shitara (Konica Minolta) - 45:55
Third Stage - 9.2 km: Bedan Karoki (Kenya/DeNA) - 26:06
Fourth Stage - 9.9 km: Hiroyuki Ono (Nissin Shokuhin) - 28:51
Fifth Stage - 7.4 km: Hiroyuki Yamamoto (Konica Minolta) - 23:22
Sixth Stage - 10.6 km: Keigo Yano (Nissin Shokuhin) - 29:48 - CR
Seventh Stage - 13.5 km: Akinobu Murasawa (Nissin Shokuhin) - 40:26

Women
25th running
14 teams, 6 stages, 42.195 km
click here for complete results

Top Team Performances
1. Universal Entertainment - 2:18:36
2. Daiichi Seimei - 2:19:03
3. Panasonic - 2:19:49
4. Yamada Denki - 2:22:03
5. Shimamura - 2:22:24
6. Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo - 2:22:25
7. Uniqlo - 2:22:51
8. Starts - 2:23:54
9. Sekisui Kagaku - 2:25:27
10. Hokuren - 2:25:42
----- top ten qualify for National Corporate Women's Ekiden
11. Hitachi - 2:28:01
12. Route Inn Hotels - 2:28:53
13. Shiseido - 2:30:18
14. Comodi Iida - 2:38:17

Stage Best Performances
First Stage - 6.795 km: Misaki Onishi (Sekisui Kagaku) - 21:32
Second Stage - 3.1 km: Rosemary Monica Wanjiru (Kenya/Starts) - 9:30
Third Stage - 12.2 km: Rina Yamazaki (Panasonic) - 40:22
Fourth Stage - 3.8 km: Felista Wanjugu (Kenya/Universal Entertainment) - 11:58
Fifth Stage - 10.0 km: Tomomi Tanaka (Daiichi Seimei) - 33:51
Sixth Stage - 6.3 km: Yuika Mori (Yamada Denki) - 20:17 - CR
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