Kamulu, Ohara and 2017 national cross country champion Mao Ichiyama (Wacoal) set off near 1:08-flat pace, a time no Japanese woman has cleared in almost 12 years. Behind them, Rio Olympian Miyuki Uehara and the debuting Azusa Sumi (Univ. Ent.) went at a more conservative pace while keeping the leaders in sight. After 5 km Kamulu through in a surge to drop her Japanese competition, going through 10 km in 32-flat and pushing on alone to finish in 1:08:04, a new course record and a PB by well over a minute and a half.
— 岡山陸上マニア (@okariku333) December 23, 2017
Behind her, Ohara and Ichiyama fought to keep it on sub-1:09 pace. Ohara began to fade, and as Ichiyama pulled away Uehara and Sumi began to come up from behind. Uehara, who memorably frontran her way to the 5000 m final in Rio, surged hard to get rid of Sumi, passing Ohara and then Ichiyama on the last lap of the track to take 2nd in 1:09:13. Ichiyama was right behind in 1:09:14. Behind them, Sumi likewise caught Ohara on the track to take 4th in a solid debut of 1:09:21. Ohara was only 9 seconds off her PB in 1:09:26, but as the 4th Japanese woman her chances of being picked up for the 2018 Valencia World Half Marathon Championships team look slim.
Further back, Charlotte Purdue (Great Britain) took 13th in a PB of 1:11:29, the fastest time this year by a British woman. Camille Buscomb (New Zealand) dropped out partway through the race.
The half marathon has been a major area of weakness for Japanese woman in recent years, with none under 1:09 since 2013 and a sub-1:10 time almost a surprise at this point. With four women under 1:09:30, three of them young runners making the all-time Japanese top 25 in their first serious half marathons, it was a welcome positive note on which to end a mostly disappointing year.
— 岡山陸上マニア (@okariku333) December 23, 2017
The 10 km division also saw good debuts by several young athletes. 19-year-old Japan-based Ethiopian Shuru Bulo (Toto) won her first road 10 km easily in 32:03. Yuka Hori (Panasonic) took 2nd in a PB of 32:27, with debuting Daiichi Seimei teammates Kanami Sagayama, 19, and Himawari Yuda, 20, both just clearing 33 minutes for 3rd and 4th.
36th Sanyo Ladies Road Race
Okayama, 12/23/17click here for complete results
Half Marathon
1. Pauline Kamulu (Route Inn Hotels) - 1:08:04 - CR, PB
2. Miyuki Uehara (Daiichi Seimei) - 1:09:13 - PB
3. Mao Ichiyama (Wacoal) - 1:09:14 - PB
4. Azusa Sumi (Universal Entertainment) - 1:09:21 - debut
5. Rei Ohara (Tenmaya) - 1:09:26
6. Kaori Morita (Panasonic) - 1:10:11 - debut
7. Honami Maeda (Tenmaya) - 1:10:22 - PB
8. Akane Sekino (Imabari Zosen) - 1:10:28 - PB
9. Reia Iwade (Dome) - 1:10:35
10. Grace Kimanzi (Starts) - 1:10:36
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13. Charlotte Purdue (Great Britain) - 1:11:29 - PB
DNF - Camille Buscomb (New Zealand)
10 km
1. Shuru Bulo (Toto) - 32:03 - debut
2. Yuka Hori (Panasonic) - 32:27 - PB
3. Kanami Sagayama (Daiichi Seimei) - 32:52 - debut
4. Himawari Yuda (Daiichi Seimei) - 32:56 - debut
5. Wakana Itsuki (Kyudenko) - 33:01 - PB
© 2017 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
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