Like at the Paris Olympics, there's no shortage of top 8 placings by Japanese athletes so far at the Lima World U20 Championships, but no medals yet. One of 4 Japanese athletes in action in finals on the third day of the championships, Koki Kanai was 70 cm out of the medals in the men's triple jump, going 15.60 m (+1.8) for 7th in the final. Gold medalist Ethan Olivier of New Zealand set a new Oceania U20 record of 17.01 m (+1.4) for the win.
Kentaro Shirahata better Kanai's placing in the men's 400 m final, running 46.83 for 5th after having run PBs in both the heats and semifinals. Gold medalist Udeme Okon was the only athlete to break 46 seconds, running 45.69.
Despite high expectations, Yamato Hamaguchi couldn't quite crack top 8 in the men's 3000 m final, running 8:24.60 for 9th. Teammate Tetsu Sasaki was a DNS. Gold medalist Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen of Norway and silver medalist Denis Kipkoech of Kenya raced each other to sub-8:21 times, Halvorsen taking gold in 8:20.56 and Kipkoech next in 8:20.79.
In qualifying rounds:
- NR holder Rin Kubo impressed again in the women's 800 m semifinals, leading the qualifiers for the final with a 2:03.00 after also leading the field in the heats.
- Men's 800 m NR holder Ko Ochiai had a bit of a scare from Great Britain's Henry Jonas at the finish line but still made it through to the final with a 1:48.26 for 2nd in SF3, 0.02 behind winner Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech of Kenya and 0.02 ahead of Jonas.
- Ami Takahashi and Miki Hayashi both got through the first-round heats in the women's 100 mH on time qualifying spots, Takahashi 3rd in Heat 5 in 13.72 (-0.3) and Hayashi 3rd in Heat 1 in 13.80 (+0.4). Both were eliminated in the semifinals, Takahashi running 13.86 (-1.5) for 4th in SF3 and Hayashi 14.13 (0.0) for 8th in SF1.
- Kyosuke Yamanaka also went on in the men's 110 mH, 2nd in Heat 5 in 13.72 (-1.1), but Yu Hashimoto was shut out of the semifinals when he ran only 14.02 (-0.7) for 7th in Heat 1. Yamanaka was eliminated in the semifinals too, 7th in SF1 in 13.83 (+0.7).
- Both Japanese men in the long jump advanced, Takuto Tsuchiya jumping 7.56 m (+0.9) and Eito Omori going 7.43 m (+2.0).
- Likewise in the men's 200 m heats, where Kei Wakana won Heat 7 in 21.17 (-0.1) and Katsuki Sato took 3rd in Heat 3 in 21.31 (-1.1). Neither could duplicate that in the semifinals though, Wakana eliminated with a 21.33 for 3rd in Heat 1 and Sato with a 21.47 for 6th in Heat 3.
- Miu Suzuki ran 9:26.77 to make the women's 3000 m final, but 9:38.38 wasn't enough for Miyu Yamada to join her there.
The Lima World U20 Championships continue through Saturday. Complete schedule and results here.
© 2024 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
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