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Cherop, Mwangi and Ekarare Win at Edion Distance Challenge


At Thursday's Edion Distance Challenge in Osaka's Nagai Stadium, 2023 World Cross Country Championships mixed relay gold medalist Mirriam Cherop (Shin Nihon Jusetsu Group) won the most competitive race of the day, taking over 30 seconds off her 5000 m PB with a 15:06.46. Cherop ran in a trio with the top two from last month's Queen's Ekiden international stage, CR-breaker Agnes Mwikali (Kyocera) and 2nd-placer Judy Jepngetich (Shiseido), splitting 3:00-6:02-9:07-12:12 en route with Jepngetich doing all the work.

With 300 m to go Cherop went to the front for the first time, Mwikali right behind her but Jepngetich losing touch. Mwikali tried to go by on the curve, but coming into the home straight Cherop opened up and held on for the win. Mwikali took 2nd in 15:06.96, with Jepngetich 3rd in 15:09.18. Queens Ekiden 2nd leg winner Yuma Yamamoto (Sekisui Kagaku) was the top Japanese finisher at 6th in 15:30.03.

Cosmas Mwangi (Chugoku Denryoku) won a tough back-and-forth race in the men's 5000 m A-heat against Daniel Kosen (Fujitsu), Mwangi 1st in 13:26.26 to Kosen's 13:26.44. Takuma Sunaoka (Konica Minolta) was top Japanese at 4th in 13:51.08. Hellen Ekarare (Toyota Jidoshokki) had an easy win in the women's 10000 m Heat 2, running 32:20.34 with Yumi Furukawa (Daiichi Seimei) 2nd in 32:22.25. Miku Suginaga (Sonoda H.S.) took the women's 3000 m Heat 3 in 9:36.31.

Edion Distance Challenge

Nagai Stadium, Osaka, 7 Dec. 2023

Women's 5000 m Heat 5
1. Mirriam Cherop (Shin Nihon Jusetsu Group) - 15:06.46 - PB
2. Agnes Mwikali (Kyocera) - 15:06.96
3. Judy Jepngetich (Shiseido) - 15:09.18
4. Janet Nyiva (Panasonic) - 15:19.60
5. Sarah Wanjiru (Daito Bunka Univ.) - 15:22.20
6. Yuma Yamamoto (Sekisui Kagaku) - 15:30.03
7. Sora Shinozakura (Panasonic) - 15:31.45
8. Erika Tanoura (Sekisui Kagaku) - 15:32.14
9. Desta Burka (Denso) - 15:34.21
10. Esther Wangui (Starts) - 15:40.70
11. Hikaru Kitagawa (Osaka Geijutsu Univ.) - 15:48.18
12. Nanami Watanabe (Panasonic) - 15:48.83
13. Rina Sasaki (Sekisui Kagaku) - 15:49.13
14. Mariya Noda (Daito Bunka Univ.) - 15:50.82
15. Chikako Mori (Sekisui Kagaku) - 15:53.54
16. Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) - 15:53.70
17. Kae Gyu (Japan Post) - 15:54.11
18. Yuna Takahashi (Shimamura) - 15:56.99
19. Toshika Tamura (Hitachi) - 15:58.98
20. Mai Nakamura (Uniqlo) - 16:08.07

Men's 5000 m Heat 3
1. Cosmas Mwangi (Chugoku Denryoku) - 13:26.26
2. Daniel Kosen (Fujitsu) - 13:26.44
3. Josphat Ledama Kisaisa (Kao) - 13:45.21
4. Takuma Sunaoka (Konica Minolta) - 13:51.08
5. Yeneblo Biyazen (Hiramatsu Myoin) - 13:56.17

Women's 10000 m Heat 2
1. Helen Ekarare (Toyota Jidoshokki) - 32:20.34
2. Yumi Furukawa (Daiichi Seimei) - 32:22.25
3. Yuna Wada (Japan Post) - 32:49.59
4. Hisami Ishii (Sysmex) - 32:51.58
5. Erina Yasui (Iwatani Sangyo) - 32:56.95

Women's 3000 m Heat 2
1. Miku Suginaga (Sonoda H.S.) - 9:36.31
2. Riho Yoshida (Toyota Jidoshokki) - 9:44.15
3. Noa Ushiroda (Sonoda H.S.) - 9:50.51

© 2023 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

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Stefan said…
I noticed Daiichi Seimei have 3 very accomplished 10000m runners: Haruka Kokai (who we will see on Sunday's National 10000m Championships), Yuka Suzuki (MGC Winner) and now Yumi Furukawa. I'm curious to see if Haruka Kokai can mix it with the likes of Ririka Hironaka and Rino Goshima. She has been an athlete on a steady rise and at only 20 years old I think she is one to watch. 3 Personal Bests in 2023, in the 3000m (9:04.56), 5000m (15:23.98) and 10000m (32:01.83). If she can break 32 it will be a very good progression this year. I'm hoping she can do it. She's a very good Exiden runner too so I'm thinking she is one who may be following Yuka Suzuki's path into the longer road distances in the near future.

Smart run by Mirriam Cherop to win her race. Whilst the time was not super fast it was very well raced on her part.

December 8, 2023 at 3:37 PM
Brett Larner said…
Yes, they should all be interesting in Nationals. Coincidentally, Mirriam will be doing some training with Daiichi Seimei later this month before going back to Kenya for the holidays. Given the credentials of the 2nd and 3rd-placers and how conservatively she ran it seems like 14 minutes is just around the corner. One more thing to look forward to in the spring.
December 8, 2023 at 4:01 PM
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