Hokuren Distance Challenge Kitami Meet Results

Racing her second 5000 m in five days, national record holder Ririka Hironaka (Japan Post) continued to build back from injury with a 3rd-place finish in 15:18.77 at Wednesday's Hokuren Distance Challenge Kitami meet, 11 seconds up on what she ran Saturday in Abashiri. Pacer Pauline Kamulu (Route Inn Hotels) gradually built up in speed, wearing down the lead pack but Hironaka staying with her as fast as it got. Joan Kipkemoi (Kyudenko) and Eva Cherono (Toto) had a stronger kick over the last 200 m, going 1-2 in 15:15.55 and 15:16.35, but Hironaka's performance increased the chance she'll be ready for the 10000 m at next month's Budapest World Championships.

Marathoner Akira Akasaki (Kyudenko) also had a quick turnaround from his 13:27.79 PB in Abashiri, tailing 3000 mSC NR holder Ryuji Miura (Juntendo Univ.) most of the way through the 5000 m before going for a long surge. Miura started to close over the last 200 m, but going into the home straight Akasaki threw off the cap he was wearing and kicked hard to hold Miura off for the win in 13:28.70 to Miura's 13:31.31. Post-race Akasaki told JRN, "From here on out it's all about getting ready for the MGC Race." If Japan's Olympic marathon trials come down to a race over the last km again, Akasaki's performance today put him on the list of contenders.

High-potential U20 runner Sonata Nagashima (Asahi Kasei) had some bad luck early in the race. Kyuma Yokota (Toyota Kyushu) collided with Nagashima while trying to come into the inside of the lane, and through whatever contact there was Nagashima lost a shoe. After stopping and putting it back on he was hopelessly separated from the pack, managing to pick up a few stragglers but finishing only 24th in 14:17.45. Yokota was 6th in 13:41.16. Alexander Mutiso (ND Software) won the B-heat in 13:32.75, edging Edwin Kipkemoi (Asahi Kasei) by just 0.05.

In the men's 10000 m, Benard Kimani (Comodi Iida) ran a patient race, taking his time in moving up from mid-pack to win by almost 8 seconds in 28:25.66. Ryo Saito (Asahi Kasei) briefly challenged him in the last 2000 m but ended up 2nd in 28:33.33, well up on 3rd-placer Shu Hasegawa (Kao).

Caroline Kariba (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) won the women's 3000 m A-heat in 8:53.82, the only runner under 9 minutes. Ai Fujita (Toyota Jidoshokki) ran a PB 4:18.46 to win the women's 1500 m, with Hiroto Takamura (Nittai Univ.) taking the men's 1500 m in 3:46.42 by 0.10 over Kaisei Sugiyama (Kao).

Complete results here. The Hokuren Distance Challenge series wraps up Saturday in Chitose.

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