Payton Jordan Invitational

Stanford University's Payton Jordan Invitational is usually a big draw for Japanese runners, the site of the current women's 10000 m and former men's 10000 m national records. But with the JAAF moving the National Championships 10000 m from June to mid-May and the Golden Games in Nobeoka meet coming next weekend only a handful made the trip to California this time around.

On the women's side, Rina Nabeshima (Japan Post), the fastest Japanese woman over 5000 m last year, ran 15:26.30 for 8th in the 5000 to miss the 2019 Doha World Championships entry standard by
just over 4 seconds. Returning from a stellar half marathon debut in February her teammate Ayuko Suzuki ran 31:33.62 for 4th in the 10000 m, with Mai Shoji (Denso) 16th in 32:29.63.

Suzuki was well under the Doha standard but almost 9 seconds over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics standard. Having qualified for the Sept. 15 MGC Race Olympic marathon trials it's unlikely she would run the 10000 m in Doha, but if she missed the Olympic team in the marathon an Olympic qualifying mark here would have given her some options and freedom for the fall and next spring.

Fresh from a big clash with the JAAF after they declined to let him run the National Championships 10000 m without a qualifying mark, 5000 m national record holder Suguru Osako (Nike Oregon Project) refreshed his 5000 m qualifying mark with a 13:40.48 for 2nd in the B-heat. This year's Japanese year-leader to date, Hyuga Endo (Sumitomo Denko) had a rougher time in the A-heat, finishing last in 14:11.53. His teammate Kazuki Tamura, hoping to clear 27:40.00 Doha standard after running a 5000 m PB two weeks ago at Mt. SAC, dropped out near 8500 m after falling off pace early in the second half.

Stanford University, Palo Alto, U.S.A., 5/2/19
complete results

Women's 5000 m Section 1
1. Jenny Simpson (New Balance) - 15:21.12
2. Rachel Schneider (Under Armour) - 15:21.44
3. Amy-Eloise Neale (Reebok Boston TC) - 15:21.58
4. Violah Lagat (Adidas) - 15:22.52
5. Elinor Purner (New Balance Boston) - 15:23.37
-----
8. Rina Nabeshima (Japan Post) - 15:26.30

Men's 5000 m Section 1
1. Yomif Kejelcha (Nike Oregon Project) - 13:10.72
2. Kirubel Erassa (American Distance Project) - 13:17.23
3. Andrew Butchart (New Balance) - 13:18.16
4. Isaac Kimeli (Olympic Running Team) - 13:18.19
5. Robyn Hendrix (Olympic Running Team) - 13:19.50
-----
24. Hyuga Endo (Sumitomo Denko) - 14:11.53

Men's 5000 m Section 2
1. Lander Tijdgat (Olympic Running Team) - 13:40.16
2. Suguru Osako (Nike Oregon Project) - 13:40.48
3. Per Svela (Aam) - 13:40.63
4. Federico Bruno (Argentina) - 13:41.52
5. Connor Lane (Stanford) - 13:42.31

Women's 10000 m
1. Sifan Hassan (Nike Oregon Project) - 31:18.12
2. Susan Krumins (Melbourne Track Club) - 31:23.81
3. Camille Buscomb (Melbourne Track Club) - 31:33.04
4. Ayuko Suzuki (Japan Post) - 31:33.62
5. Carrie Dimoff (Bowerman TC) - 31:42.88
-----
16. Mai Shoji (Denso) - 32:29.63

Men's 10000 m
1. Ben True (Saucony) - 27:52.39
2. Marc Scott (Bowerman TC) - 27:56.19
3. Harry Summers (Melbourne Track Club) - 27:56.98
4. Diego Estrada (Asics) - 27:57.99
5. Reid Buchanan (Mammoth TC) - 27:58.67
-----
DNF - Kazuki Tamura (Sumitomo Denko)

© 2019 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

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