After three straight weeks of road racing that included a half marathon national record, Hitomi Niiya (Sekisui Kagaku) returned to the track alongside 2019 national champion Tomoka Kimura and teammate Yuka Takashima (both Shiseido) for a 5000 m at Australia's Melbourne Track Classic. Kimura collided with another runner at the start and never regained her composure, finishing 12th in 15:51.92. Takashima and Niiya went straight to the front, with Niiya's training partner Wakana Kabasawa (Keio Univ.) handling pacing duties in the early going.
Once Kabasawa stepped off at 1000 m Niiya took over, leading the rest of the way just off the pace she needed to break her 2012-era PB of 15:10.20. The leaders quickly boiled down to just her and Australians Jessica Hull and Genevieve Gregson. From 600 m out Hull kicked, going on to win unchallenged in 15:06.12. Niiya uncharacteristically dropped Gregson over the last lap, taking 2nd in 15:15.41 with Gregson 3rd in 15:20.60. Jenny Blundell was 4th, taking the third spot on the podium for the Australian championships title. Takashima faded to 13th in 15:53.80.
Also at the meet, last year's 800 m and 1500 m double national champion Ran Urabe (Sekisui Kagaku) kicked off her 2020 season with a 4:28.48 for 9th in the women's 1500 m. Daigo Hasegawa (Ito Chotanpa) was 7th in the men's triple jump with a jump of 15.26 m (+0.7 m/s).
Melbourne Track Classic
Melbourne, Australia, 2/6/20complete results
Women's 5000 m
1. Jessica Hull (Australia) - 15:06.12 - WL
2. Hitomi Niiya (Japan/Sekisui Kagaku) - 15:15.41
3. Genevieve Gregson (Australia) - 15:20.60
4. Jenny Blundell (Australia) - 15:22.14
5. Linden Hall (Australia) - 15:26.22
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12. Tomoka Kimura (Japan/Shiseido) - 15:51.92
13. Yuka Takashima (Japan/Shiseido) - 15:53.80
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DNF - Wakana Kabasawa (Japan/Keio Univ.) - pacer
Women's 1500 m
1. Lauren Reid (Australia) - 4:16.52
2. Sarah Billings (Australia) - 4:18.25
3. Katherine Camp (New Zealand) - 4:20.75
4. Rebekah Greene (New Zealand) -4:22.09
5. Bernadette Williams (Australia) - 4:22.76
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9. Ran Urabe (Japan/Sekisui Kagaku) - 4:28.48
Men's Triple Jump
1. Julian Konlee (Australia) - 16.66 m +0.7 m/s
2. Ayo Ore (Australia) - 16.21 m +0.4 m/s
3. Shemaiah James (Australia) - 16.16 m +1.8 m/s
4. Alwyn Jones (Australia) - 16.05 m +0.9 m/s
5. Connor Murphy (Australia) - 15.68 m +1.3 m/s
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7. Daigo Hasegawa (Japan/Ito Chotanpa) - 15.26 m +0.7 m/s
© 2020 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
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