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Komazawa's Kaneko Wins Yaizu Minato Half Marathon


The Yaizu Minato Half Marathon took place Apr. 2 in Yaizu, Shizuoka, its second year back after coronavirus pandemic-era cancelations in 2020 and 2021. In windy conditions 2023 Hakone Ekiden champion Komazawa University 4th-year Ibuki Kaneko took the overall win in 1:04:31, beating 4th-year Hayato Shiki of Aoyama Gakuin University by 6 seconds. Local Ayumi Sano won the women's race in 1:22:21.

The Yaizu Half has long been a fixture on the collegiate circuit, attracting many of the top university men's ekiden teams. It Doubles as the National University Pair Marathon Championships, with each university scored on the combined times of its top two placers. Aoyama Gakuin won this year, with individual runner-up Shiki and 2nd-year Tomoki Aramaki, 6th in 1:05:04 to give AGU a total of 2:09:36 for the win. Komazawa and last year's Pair Marathon winner Toyo University tied for 2nd in 2:10:16.

38th Yaizu Minato Half Marathon

Yaizu, Shizuoka, 2 Apr. 2023

Men
1. Ibuki Kaneko (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:04:31
2. Hayato Shiki (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:04:37
3. Makoto Takewari (Tokai Univ.) - 1:04:48
4. Shusuke Seo (Koku Gakuin Univ.) - 1:04:54
5. Kenta Shimura (Soka Univ.) - 1:04:59
6. Tomoki Aramaki (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 1:05:04
7. Taichi Murakami (Toyo Univ.) - 1:05:07
8. Keigo Amimoto (Toyo Univ.) - 1:05:09
9. Mahiro Yamaguchi (Komazawa Univ.) - 1:05:45
10. Haruki Miyashita (Nippatsu) - 1:05:51
11. Kosuke Tsujimoto (Jobu Univ.) - 1:05:59

Women
1. Ayumi Sano (Shizuoka T&F Assoc.) - 1:22:21

Team Scoring
1. Aoyama Gakuin University - 2:09:41
2. Komazawa University - 2:10:16
3. Toyo University - 2:10:16
4. Tokai University - 2:11:45
5. Soka University - 2:11:58
6. Koku Gakuin University - 2:13:16
7. Reitaku University - 2:13:24
8. Chuo Gakuin University - 2:14:49
9. Obirin University - 2:15:23
10. Asia University - 2:15:34

source article:
translated and edited by Brett Larner

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