3 Top-Tier Japanese Collegiate Runners in United Airlines NYC Half Elite Field

The NYRR have announced the elite fields for the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half, and 3 top-tier runners from Japanese universities feature prominently in the men's field. Having just lost his 59:32 collegiate record to Komazawa University's Kotaro Shinohara in Marugame earlier this month, collegiate 5000 m and 10000 m record holder Richard Etir of Tokyo Kokusai University heads to New York fresh off a 1:05:31 CR on the 23.1 km Hakone Ekiden Second Stage, equivalent to a 59:50 half marathon on a rolling net uphill course. That should predict success on the tough NYC course. He'll be the main competition for newly crowned American record holder Connor Mantz, 59:17 in Houston at the end of January, with defending champ and sub-59 man Abel Kipchumba in contention too after a 59:52 win at last year's Great North Run. Sub-27 10000 m men Mohammed Ahmed and Woody Kincaid are also debuting.

Komazawa teammates Yudai Kiyama and Hibiki Murakami earned spots in New York with breakthrough runs at November's Ageo City Half Marathon as part of JRN's partnership with the NYRR and Ageo. Kiyama was 2nd in 1:01:59 and Murakami 4th in 1:02:04, both PBs. At Hakone Kiyama was 2nd again on the 21.3 km First Stage in 1:02:39, with Murakami 5th on the 23.1 km Ninth Stage. Both broke through again at Marugame earlier this month, Kiyama was a stellar 1:00:32 that saw him go from 15th to 10th in the last km and Murakami running a 1:01:46 PB. For both it will be the first time racing outside Japan.

United Airlines NYC Half

Elite Men's Field Highlights

New York, U.S.A., 16 March 2025

times listed are athletes' best in last 3 years except where noted

Conner Mantz (U.S.A.) - 59:17 (Houston 2025)

Richard Etir (Kenya/Tokyo Kokusai Univ.) - 59:32 (Marugame 2024)

Abel Kipchumba (Kenya) - 59:52 (Great North Run 2024)

Patrick Dever (Great Britain) - 1:00:11 (Houston 2025)

Hillary Bor (U.S.A.) - 1:00:20 (Houston 2025)

Yudai Kiyama (Japan/Komazawa Univ.) - 1:00:32 (Marugame 2025)

Wesley Kiptoo (Kenya) - 1:00:34 (Houston 2025)

Biya Simbassa (U.S.A.) - 1:00:37 (Valencia 2023)

Reed Fischer (U.S.A.) - 1:00:54 (Houston 2025)

Ben Flanagan (Canada) - 1:01:00 (Valencia 2022)

Alex Masai (Kenya) - 1:01:04 (Houston 2025)

Jack Rowe (Great Britain) - 1:01:08 (Greenwich 2023)

Yemane Haileselassie (Eritrea) - 1:01:34 (Houston 2024)

Hibiki Murakami (Japan/Komazawa. Univ.) - 1:01:46 (Marugame 2025)

Tristan Woodfine (Canada) - 1:02:40 (Boston 2023)

Andrew Davies (Canada) - 1:03:05 (Vancouver 2025)

Jose Mauricio Gonzalez (Colombia) - 1:03:07 (Caracas 2023)

Connor Winter (U.S.A.) - 1:03:10 (NYC 2023)

Charlie Sweeney (U.S.A.) - 1:03:31 (Indianapolis 2023)

Liam Dee (Great Britain) - 1:03:43 (Valencia 2024)

Nick Hauger (U.S.A.) - 1:03:48 (Great North Run 2024)

Tim McGowan (U.S.A.) - 1:03:54 (Philadelphia 2023)

Debut

Mohammed Ahmed (Canada) - 26:43.79 (Paris Olympics 10000 m 2024)

Woody Kincaid (U.S.A.) - 26:57.57 (The TEN 10000 m 2024)

Luke Combs (U.S.A.) - 28:24.84 (Palo Alto 10000 m 2024)

Takeshi Soh Reflects on 54 Years in the Sport on His Retirement as Asahi Kasei Head Coach

After 54 years at the Asahi Kasei corporate team, first as athlete and then as coach, Takeshi Soh will retire at the end of this month. Together with his twin brother Shigeru Soh they formed a duo who were icons of the Japanese marathoning world and went all the way to the Olympics. After retiring from competition Takeshi devoted himself to coaching young athletes and came to play a primary role in the leadership of Japanese long distance. His list of achievements is long, and so is the list of those he influenced and inspired. His twin Shigeru was chosen for three Olympic teams in the marathon, Montreal in 1976, Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984. Takeshi was named to the Moscow and Los Angeles teams, placing 4th in L.A. to confirm his position as one of the greatest names in the sport in that era. After becoming a coach the twins helped lead Hiromi Taniguchi to gold at the 1991 Tokyo World Championships, Koichi Morishita to silver a year later at the Barcelona Olympics, and o...

Evaluating the Japan Marathon Championship Series IV Awards

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Weekend Road and Track Roundup

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