Nyiva and Wolde Win Gifu Seiryu Half

Two good races happened Sunday at the Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon. The women's race was a head-to-head race between 2022 marathon world champion Gotytom Gebreslase and debuting Japan-based Janet Nyiva. Side-by-side through 15 km, Nyiva shattered Gebreslase with a massive surge over the last 5 km that ultimately put 52 second between them, Nyiva wining in 1:07:37 and Gebreslase next in 1:08:29.

2023 Asian marathon champion Eunice Chebichii Chumba held off the up-and-coming Kana Kobayashi, a member of Japan's marathon team for September's Tokyo World Championships, with a 1:09:07 for 3rd. Kobayashi's 1:09:09 for 4th was a PB by almost 5 minutes and the fastest time ever on the rolling Gifu course by a Japanese woman. Yumi Yoshikawa was 5th in 1:10:51.

Five men went out front on mid-59 pace. Dawit Wolde, debuting Kiprono Sitonik, Vincent Yegon and veteran Bedan Karoki all took turns leading, with only Richard Kimunyan tucking in and declining to share the load. As in the women's race Wolde and Sitonik broke away with a long surge over the last 5 km, and Wolde had the wheels in the final km to take the win in 1:00:06 to Sitonik's 1:00:13. Yegon and Kimunan were both under 62 minutes in 3rd and 4th, with Karoki just holding off 2025 corporate marathon champion Tsubasa Ichiyama for 5th in 1:02:12.

Out fast, Ichiyama settled into a comfortable solo pace after 10 km, only to be caught by Masashi Nonaka at 19 km. Ichiyama responded with a surge to reopen 19 seconds on for 6th and top Japanese in 1:02:21. Both Ichiyama and Yoshikawa will be running next month's Launceston Running Festival half marathon in Tasmania, Australia.

Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon

Gifu, 27 April 2025

complete women's results

complete men's results

Women

1. Janet Nyiva (Kenya/Pansonic) - 1:07:37 - debut

2. Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia) - 1:08:29

3. Eunice Chebichii Chumba (Bahrain) - 1:09:07

4. Kana Kobayashi (Otsuka Seiyaku) - 1:09:09 - PB

5. Yumi Yoshikawa (Aichi T&F Assoc.) - 1:10:51

6. Mio Kuroda (Kyocera) - 1:11:26

7. Miu Yagi (Iwatani Sangyo) - 1:11:40

8. Mizuki Matsuda (Daihatsu) - 1:11:46

9. Yuna Arai (Sekisui Kagaku) - 1:12:47

10. Erina Yasui (Iwatani Sangyo) - 1:13:20

11. Mirai Waku (Universal Ent.) - 1:14:08

12. Rinka Hida (Daiichi Seimei) - 1:15:15

13. Natsuki Ogawa (Suzuki) - 1:15:32

14. Mao Kiyota (Suzuki) - 1:16:45

15. Misaki Matsumoto (Chukyo Gakuin Univ.) - 1:17:15

Men

1. Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia) - 1:00:06

2. Kiprono Sitonik (Kenya/Kurosaki Harima) - 1:00:13 - debut

3. Vincent Yegon (Kenya/Honda) - 1:01:17

4. Richard Kimunyan (Kenya/Logisteed) - 1:01:57

5. Bedan Karoki (Kenya/Toyota) - 1:02:12

6. Tsubasa Ichiyama (Sunbelx) - 1:02:21

7. Masashi Nonaki (Toyota) - 1:02:40

8. Yeneblo Biyazen (Ethiopia/Hiramatsu Byoin) - 1:02:44

9. Benard Kimani (Kenya/Comodi Iida) - 1:02:45

10. Kyohei Hosoya (Kurosaki Harima) - 1:02:45

11. Yuta Shitara (Nishitetsu) - 1:02:53

12. Shun Sadakata (Mazda) - 1:02:56

13. Mizuki Higashi (Aisan Kogyo) - 1:03:07

14. Maru Teferi (Israel) - 1:03:09

15. Taisei Kato (Asahi Kasei) - 1:03:32

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