Kanakuri Memorial Meet Highlights

Kumamoto's Kanakuri Memorial Meet kicked off Japan's outdoor track season Saturday. In cold and windy conditions Hakone Ekiden great Vincent Yegon made his debut for two-time New Year Ekiden champ Honda with a win in a four-way battle over the last lap, dropping Samson Ndirangu (Sunbelx) in the last 50 m for 1st 27:37.85 to 27:39.67. Tomoki Ota (Toyota) was 3rd in 27:42.49, with collegiate half marathon champ Kotaro Shinohara of Hakone Ekiden winner Komazawa University 4th in 27:43.13, the 4th-best ever by a Japanese-born collegiate man.

The women's 10000 m had only five athletes on the starting line, and it was 2022 National Corporate Half Marathon champion Dolphine Omare (U.S.E.) all the way. Omare clocked 31:44.67, over 30 seconds up on top Japanese woman Misaki Hayashida (Kyudenko). Hayashida was 2nd in 32:15.97, with all four Japanese women clearing 32:45.

The men's 5000 m was split into six heats, with Heat 6 winner Emmanuel Korir (Mitsubishi Juko) turning in the fastest time of the day in 13:24.54 by 0.25 over new Tokyo Kokusai University recruit Amos Kibet. Kazuya Shiojiri (Fujitsu) was the top Japanese man in 13:26.03 for 4th, with U20 NR holder Keita Sato (Komazawa Univ.) 8th in 13:30.12. H.S. In his debut for Juntendo University NR holder Hiroto Yoshioka was 11th in 13:56.34.

A transfer from Asahi Kasei, Benuel Mogeni Magoma (Yasukawa Denki) took Heat 5 in 13:27.60 by 0.44 over Kazuki Tamura (Sumitomo Denko), who continues his comeback from a long pre-Olympic injury. Heat 4 went almost as fast as Heat 6, with Peter Kibui Wangari (NTN) getting the win in a photo finish with James Mutok (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.), 13:24.725 to 13:24.728.

Kamimura Gakuen High School's Caroline Kariba closed with a 2:53 final 1000 m to win what up to that point was a slow women's 5000 m A-heat, running 15:23.69 to beat 14:30.77 runner Eva Cherono (Toto) by 0.23. Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) was close behind in 3rd in 15:24.04, with Nagisa Shimotabira (Senko) the fastest Japan woman in 15:32.94 for 7th. Rina Nabeshima (Sekisui Kagaku) won the B-heat in 15:36.88, with 31-year-old Olympic marathon trials qualifier and mother Sairi Maeda (Daihatsu) surprising with a 15:37.17 for 2nd, her best time since running her PB of 15:32.22 back in 2012.

Janet Nyiva (Panasonic) won the women's 3000 m in 8:59.75, beating runner-up Risa Yamazaki (Nittai Univ.) by over 15 seconds.

In her first race with new sponsor Uniqlo, Yume Goto outkicked NR holder Nozomi Tanaka (New Balance) over the last 150 m to win the women's 1500 m in 4:17.98. Tanaka faded badly and was almost caught by a fast-closing Aoi Suzuki (Nitori), just holding her off by 0.12 for 2nd in 4:20.11.

Ryoji Tatezawa (DeNA) also came from behind to win the men's 1500 m in 3:41.00, running down all-time #3 Ryuji Miura (Juntendo Univ.), #4 Nanami Arai (Honda) and others to do it. NR holder Kazuto Kawamura (Toenec) was only 12th in 3:48.67.

Complete results here.

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