Skip to main content

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.

© 2023 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

Buy Me A Coffee

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most-Read This Week

Federation Tells World Championships Marathoner Horibata To Go On Diet

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20110307-OHT1T00258.htm translated by Brett Larner Having made the 2011 World Championships marathon team by running a PB of 2:09:25 to come in 3rd overall and as the top Japanese finisher at the Mar. 6 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, Hiroyuki Horibata (24, Team Asahi Kasei), talked to the media at Osaka Airport on Mar. 7. Following Sunday's race Rikuren director Keisuke Sawaki , 67, told Horibata, "Let's cut things down a bit until the World Championships," directing him to go on a diet. The 189 cm Horibata weighs 72 kg [~6'3", 160 lbs]. When he joined Team Asahi Kasei in 2005 at age 18 he weighed 65 kg, and this weight is still generally listed on his profile at races and in the media. "For some reason it never changes," he said with a grin. His coach Takeshi Soh , 58, commented, "If he was hungrier for glory his world would change completely," slapping the 'heavyweight division runner...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nagoya Asian Games Test Event Canceled After Insulation Falls From Venue Ceiling

A section of insulation material fell from the ceiling of Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, the official venue for squash competition at September's Nagoya Asian Games. There were no injuries, but the city suspended use of the arena until its safety could be guaranteed, resulting in the cancelation of the Asian Games squash test event which was scheduled to have begun on May 14. It is not yet clear whether the arena will be usable for the Asian Games as planned. According to city officials, arena staff found that the insulation material had fallen onto a work walkway 13 m above the ground on the night of May 11. The fallen material was 3.6 m long, 50 cm wide and 2.5 km thick, and was found to be waterlogged. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is possible that it was caused by rainwater leaking in from the roof. The same insulation material is installed across the entire ceiling, and the city plans to check for the extent of the possible flooding. Asked whether the arena will be re...
Post a Comment
Read more

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Hakone Ekiden

The Hakone Ekiden is the world's biggest road race, 2 days of road relay action with Japan's 20 best university teams racing 10 half marathon-scale legs from central Tokyo to the mountains east of Mount Fuji and back. The level just keeps going higher and higher , hitting the point this year where there are teams with 10-runner averages of 13:33.10 for 5000 m, 27:55.98 for 10000 m, and 1:01:20 for the half marathon. It's never been better, and with great weather in the forecast it's safe to say this could be one of the best races in Hakone's 102-year history, especially on Day One. If you've seen it then you know NTV's live broadcast is the best sports broadcast in the world, with the pre-race show kicking off at 7:00 a.m. Japan time on the 2nd and 3rd and the race starting at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If you've got a VPN you should be able to watch it on TVer starting at 7:50 a.m. on the 2nd , and again at 7:50 a.m. on the 3rd . There's even a 2-hour high...
3 comments
Read more