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Kamau and Kobayashi Win Shibetsu Half Marathon

The 37th Suffolkland Shibetsu Half Marathon took place July 21 in hot and sunny conditions. Patrick Kamau (Jobu University) won the men's race in 1:03:42, his third-straight Shibetsu win.. In 2nd place and the top Japanese position was Reishi Yoshida (Chuo Gakuin Univ.) in 1:04:47. Koki Yoshioka (Kyudenko) was 3rd in 1:05:09. In the women's race Kana Kobayashi (Otsuka Seiyaku) won in 1:14:01 by 48 seconds over Yuki Toyoda (Higo Ginko).

The top member of Chuo Gakuin's ekiden team, Yoshida ran the competitive Second Stage at this year's Hakone Ekiden. Last year he ran the World University Games half marathon and was the fastest among the Japanese team at 1:02:08 for 4th, helping Japan score the team bronze medal. He has a half marathon PB of 1:00:31 and took 5th in the fast heat at last month's National University Ekiden qualifier.

37th Suffolkland Shibetsu Half Marathon

Shibetsu, Hokkaido, 21 July 2024

Men
1. Patrick Kamau (Jobu Univ.) - 1:03:42
2. Reishi Yoshida (Chuo Gakuin Univ.) - 1:04:47
3. Koki Yoshioka (Kyudenko) - 1:05:09
4. Taisei Kato (Asahi Kasei) - 1:05:22
5. Shuto Tokuda (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) - 1:05:24
6. Shunya Kikuchi (Chugoku Denryoku) - 1:05:38
7. Yuki Suzuki (Kao) - 1:05:57
8. Soshin Nakano (Kanagawa Univ.) - 1:06:08
9. Ryuki Shijiki (Kanagawa Univ.) - 1:06:18
10. Yuta Shitara (Nishitetsu) - 1:06:25

Women
1. Kana Kobayashi (Otsuka Seiyaku) - 1:14:01
2. Yuki Toyoda (Higo Ginko) - 1:14:49
3. Yuko Kikuchi (Shimamura) - 1:17:15
4. Ayano Ikemitsu (Kagoshima Ginko) - 1:17:49
5. Mirai Waku (Universal Entertainment) - 1:18:11
6. Miyuki Uehara (Kagoshima Ginko) - 1:19:44


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