Australia and Kenya Dominate at Fst in Fukuoka Mile and 5k

After a day of heavy rain conditions were pretty close to ideal for the 2nd edition of The Fst in Fukuoka road mile and 5 km, an appetizer event ahead of Sunday's mass participation Fukuoka Marathon. In her Japanese debut Australia's Sarah Billings had an easy win in the women's mile, outclassing Mami Yamaguchi (Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ) 4:48 to 4:59. Stewart McSweyn made it an Aussie double with a win in the men's mile in a much closer race, running 4:02 with domestic favorites Masato Saiki (Fujisan no Meisui) and Yusuke Takahashi (Hokkaido Univ.) going 2-3 in 4:04 and 4:08.

The women's 5 km was the most competitive of the day, with a tight pack of 5 Japan-based Kenyans that whittled down to just last year's winner Teresiah Muthoni (Daiso), corporate half marathon champ Dolphine Omare (U.S.E.) and 2023 World XC relay gold medalist Mirriam Cherop (Shin Nihon Jusetsu) with a km to go. Muthoni kicked away over the last 200 m to take the win in 15:35, with Omare just edging Cherop by a second for 2nd, 15:40 to 15:41. Post-race Muthoni did her winning interview on the podium in extremely impressive Japanese.

The men's 5 km saw a similar pack, in its case including former half marathon and marathon Japanese NR holder Yuta Shitara (Nishitetsu). That shook down to just 10 mile world best holder Benard Koech (Kyudenko) and newcomer Edwin Kisalsak, 9th on the competitive 2nd leg at last weekend's East Japan Corporate Ekiden to help the Fujisan no Meisui team qualify for the New Year Ekiden in its first appearance. It came down to a photo finish, both men clocking 13:28 but Kisalsak scoring the win. Shitara ended up 6th in 14:19.

2nd The Fst in Fukuoka

Fukuoka, 11 Nov., 2023

complete results

Women's Mile

1. Sarah Billings (Australia) - 4:48

2. Mami Yamaguchi (Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ.) - 4:59

3. Kaede Oya (Kentaku Partners) - 5:02

4. Eina Tokura (Fukuoka Univ.) - 5:14

5. Honoka Kajiya (Fukuoka Univ.) - 5:26

Men's Mile

1. Stewart McSweyn (Australia) - 4:02

2. Masato Saiki (Fujisan no Meisui) - 4:04

3. Yusuke Takahashi (Hokkaido Univ.) - 4:08

4. Naoto Katayama (Sanyo Tokushu Seiko) - 4:10

5. Riku Miyase (Hokkaido Univ.) - 4:15

Women's 5 km

1. Teresiah Muthoni (Kenya/Daiso) - 15:35

2. Dolphine Omare (Kenya/U.S.E.) - 15:40

3. Mirriam Cherop (Kenya/Shin Nihon Jusetsu) - 15:41

4. Eva Cherono (Kenya/Toto) - 15:45

5. Rebecca Mwangi (Kenya/Daiso) - 16:09

Men's 5 km

1. Edwin Kisalsak (Kenya/Fujisan no Meisui) - 13:28

2. Benard Koech (Kenya/Kyudenko) - 13:28

3. Nickson Lesiyia (Kenya/Nishitetsu) - 13:48

4. Nelson Mandela (Kenya/Obirin Univ.) - 13:54

5. Takumi Yokokawa (Tokyo T&F Assoc.). 14:03

6. Yuta Shitara (Nishitetsu) - 14:19

Chesang and Kipkoech Win Hot Gifu Half

Hot conditions held back fast times at the Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon Sunday, where Ugandan Stella Chesang and Kenya Hillary Kipkoech took the top spots over last year's winners Dolphine Nyaboke Omare and Amos Kurgat . In the women's race Chesang, Omare and Kenyan-born Bahraini Eunice Chebichii Chumba went out as a trio, Japan-based Hellen Ekarare with them initially but eventually dropping out. After a 15:39 opening 5 km Chumba started to slip off, and by 15 km Chesang was on her own. Chesang won in 1:07:59, solid given the conditions, with Omare 2nd in 1:08:31 and Chumba 3rd in 1:09:10. Rinka Hida was the first Japanese woman, 5th overall in 1:12:06 behind Australian Genevieve Gregson . A lead men's pack of 11 went through 5 km in 14:31, but by 10 km it was down to Kipkoech, Kurgat, , Timothy Kiplagat , Ugandan Stephen Kissa and Japan-based Kenyans Patrick Mathenge Wambui and Anthony Maina . At 15 km in 43:40 only Kurgat and Kipkoech were left, and over the last 5

World Championships Medalist Racewalking Coach Mizuho Sakai Recognized With Highest Coaching Honor

The 2023 Mizuno Sports Mentor Awards recognizing excellence in coaching were held Apr. 23 in Tokyo. Toyo University assistant coach and race walking coach Mizuho Sakai was given a gold award, the program's highest honor, and expressed her thanks and joy in a speech at the award ceremony. The coach of 2023 Budapest World Championships men's 35 km race walk bronze medalist Masatora Kawano , Sakai said, "This is an incredible honor and I'm truly grateful. As a child I wanted to be in the sporting world and I've spent my life in that world. My end goal was always to play a supporting role for other athletes, so I'm honored to be recognized in this way." Sakai's husband Toshiyuki Sakai , head coach of Toyo's three-time Hakone Ekiden champion team, attended the awards gala with her and was also introduced to the audience. After bowing he took a seat in front of her and watched with warmth as she received recognition for her outstanding work. The Mizun

Okumoto and Kondo Score Silver and Bronze - U20 Asian Championships Day One

The U20 Asian Athletics Championships started Wednesday in Dubai, U.A.E. Narumi Okumoto (Hitachi) and Nozomi Kondo (Meijo Univ.) scored Japan's first two medals in the women's 3000 m, running behind leader Yaxuan Li of China over the first 1000 m. Kondo lost touch after the first 1000 m, while Okumoto lasted another 1000 m with Li. Li took gold in 9:12.79, Okumoto silver in 9:25.19 and Kondo bronze in 9:38.91. In qualifying rounds: Both Yuri Nishida (Ritsumeikan Univ.) and Sari Kameda (Kyoto Kyoiku Univ.) won their women's 800 m heats and advanced to the next round, Nishida in a PB 2:07.36 and Kamei in 2:10.87, also a PB. Shota Fuchigami (Waseda Univ.) won his 400 mH heat in a PB 50.19 to make the final. Hiroto Shogomori (Chuo Univ.) was 2nd in his 400 m heat in 47.37, yet another athlete to run a PB, moving on to the semifinals. The lone female sprinter on the Japanese team, Misaki Morimoto (Sonoda Joshi Gakuen Univ.) won her 100 m heat in 12.20 (-1.4) and advance

japan running news

Search This Blog