The number of Japanese athletes going overseas continues to inch back toward pre-pandemic levels, with people racing in Europe and North America this weekend.
Three were at the Adizero: Road to Records promotional event at Adidas world HQ in Germany Saturday, 19-year-old Koku Gakuin University teammates Kiyoto Hirabayashi and Ayumu Yamamoto, and marathoner Mao Uesugi (Starts). Despite low-hanging official road 5 km NR of only 13:55 and 15:52, both times regularly beaten by high schoolers in ekiden racing, both Yamamoto and Uesugi fell far short. Yamamoto, who ran 1:00:43 for the half marathon in February, ran only 14:34 in the men's 5 km, while Uesugi, 2:22:29 at January's Osaka International Women's Marathon, ran 16:12 in the women's 5 km. Hirabayashi was at about the same level in the men's half marathon, running 1:03:33.
Two women from the Uniqlo corporate team were at Stanford University's Payton Jordan Invitational in the U.S.A., Mai Shoji in the 5000 m and Karin Yasumoto in the 1500 m. Shoji ran 15:57.68 for 9th in the A-heat, with Yasumoto last in the B-heat in 4:32.87.
Comments
Like you said both Yamamoto and Hirabayashi didn't race even close to their potential this week and the same has been the case for other athletes throughout the country recently at the various races/time trials.
Understandable given the month we are in.
Miura is approaching the World Championshiop preparation working on speed and he is performing well.
I'm curious to see Ren Tazawa next week at the 10.000m nationals. (Aizawa seems like he won't be there...is he at risk of missing the World Championship?)
I saw that Vincent Yegon was there at the Adidas event with Hirabayashi and Yamamoto, I read earlier this week that he was supposed to run the 10k but I didn't see him. Did I miss him or he withdrew?
Well, lots of exciting races coming this month!