Oda Memorial Meet and Nittai Time Trials Results

Tuesday's Oda Memorial Meet in Hiroshima was the biggest action of the holiday, with what was probably the biggest result of the day coming in the men's 3000 mSC. With an aggressive middle 1000 m and a last kick for the win, Yutaro Niinae (Aisan Kogyo) solidified his position as Japan's 2nd-best steepler with a career 2nd-best 8:25.43 to beat teammate Philemon Kiplagat by just 0.44. Niinae will represent Japan at next month's Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea.

Other meet highlights:

Hitomi Nakajima (Hasegawa) and Chisato Kiyoyama (Ichigo) had breakthrough runs in the women's 100 mH final, going 1-2 in all-time Japanese #5 and #6 times of 12.93 and 12.94 (+1.8). 9 of Japan's 10 all-time best have now run their times since 2021. Tatsuki Abe (Juntendo Univ.) took the men's 110 mH final in 13.36 (+1.9).
Australian Tess Kisropp-Cole set a meet record 2:02.74 to win the women's 800 m, with Ellie Sanford 2nd in 2:03.05 over 3 seconds ahead of top Japanese Ayano Shiomi (Iwatani Sangyo).
Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) saved it all for the last 200 m, out kicking leader Ririka Hironaka (Japan Post) and Agnes Mwikali (Kyocera) for the women's 5000 m A-heat win in 15:17.93. B-heat winner Jecinta Nyokabi (Denso) probably belonged in the A-heat, winning by over 20 seconds in 15:35.85.
Shunsuke Yoshii (Chuo Univ.) won the men's 5000 m A-heat in 13:26.31, with the top 5 all clearing 13:30.
Margaret Muthoni (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) set a meet record in the West Japan junior women's 3000 m, running 9:12.34. 2nd and 3rd-placers Nodoka Ashida (Ritsumeikan Uji H.S.) and Rin Setoguchi (Kamimura Gakuen H.S.) both cleared 9:20 too, with the top 6 under 9:30.
Former men's 100 m NR holder Yoshihide Kiryu (Nihon Seimei) ran 10.06 (+2.7) to win his semifinal, but the final went to Naoki Inoue (Waseda Univ.) in 10.12 (+0.4), with Rikuto Higuchi (Suzuki) 2nd in 10.14 and Kiryu 3rd in 10.15.
Arisa Kimishima (DKS) won the women's 100 m final in 11.42 (+1.8) in a photo finish with Australian Mia Gross, who closed fast after a slow start but came just short of the win.
Yuta Sakiyama (Ehime T&F Assoc.) had a good one in the men's javelin throw, winning with a last throw of 82.96 m.

The weekend's 320th Nittai University Time Trials meet also had some big results in its top heats.

James Mutuku (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) won a fast men's 10000 m A-heat in 27:20.79, with the top 3 under 27:25 and top 10 under 28 minutes. Tatsuhiko Ito (Honda) was the top Japanese man at 27:34.98, with teammate Toru Kubota 10th in 27:50.12. Sub-61 collegiate half marathoner Reishi Yoshida made his debut in the Honda uniform, last in 28:56.15.
The men's 5000 m A-heat was just off the level at the Oda Memorial, Daniel Kosen (Fujitsu) taking the win in 13:32.91 and the top 4 under 13:35 including Fujitsu's Hiroki Matsueda.
2:05:12 marathoner Yohei Ikeda (Kao) was back in action in the men's 1500 m A-heat, just 0.45 off his PB in 2nd in 3:46.03 behind Akira Soga (Seishin JAC), winner in 3:44.36.
Yvonne Jepchirchir Chepkosgei (Higo Ginko) won the women's 5000 m A-heat in 15:30.88, Tokyo World Championships team member Yuka Ando (Shimamura) 2nd in 15:44.01.
Caroline Kariba (Japan Post) took the women's 3000 m A-heat with a solid 8:57.92.

Kobe Marathon Elite Field

Sunday's Kobe Marathon has announced its elite fields, finally. Japanese athletes have a shot at qualifying for next fall's MGC Race, the official trials race for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, if they go sub-2:27 for the first Japanese woman across the line or sub-2:09 for the first 3 Japanese men to do it. There aren't a lot of contenders to pull it off. On the women's side, Kaede Hagitani , Ayaka Shimoyamada and Kotomi Tsubokura all ran 2:31-32 PBs in the spring and will need to step it up a couple of notches to get there. 2:23 Kenyan Antonina Kwambai is perfectly positioned to help. On the men's side, Keijiro Mogi is closest with a 2:09:06 at last year's Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon, Hiroto Kanamori his closest domestic competition with a 2:10:01 PB in Osaka in February. The international trio of last year's winner Barnaba Kipkoech , Elisha Rotich and Goitom Kifle all have recent 2:06-7 times and should help set it up for someone to get there, wh...

Kenyan Graduate Student Athlete Posts Job Hunt for Ekiden Team on Twitter

A Kenyan runner who had tried to help lead his team to the Hakone Ekiden has taken an unusual approach to finding a post-graduation sponsor. Last week Patrick Kamau posted his job hunt on his Twitter account , saying, "I am looking for a club team or a corporate team where I can run in ekidens. I would be happy to run for any team that gave me a chance. I would be grateful for any opportunity and take it on with a positive attitude!" Kamau was 5th at the Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai qualifying race half marathon in 1:01:10 last year during his 4th year at Jobu University . But despite his efforts, Jobu never qualified for Hakone during his 4 years there. He is currently working on a graduate degree while looking for "a team that will let me continue my competitive career." Fans responded to Kamau's job search posting, saying, "I hope it works out for you!" "Good luck comes to those who work hard" and "Kamau is going to graduate school? Given...

Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Elite Field (updated)

Another big race on the MGC qualifying calendar has posted its elite fields, the Dec. 6 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon . It looks like a good race for the single MGC spot up for women under 2:27, and the 6 spots for men sub-2:09. Yuka Ando is the favorite in the women's race with a 2:21:18 in Nagoya 2 years ago, with her only real competition coming from Ayumi Morita , who broke 2:27 in Hofu last year but missed qualifying by not being the first Japanese woman across the line. CR holder Workneh Derese is back after his 2:06:58 win last year, leading Kenyan veteran Bedan Karoki and 4 Japanese men with a solid chance at sub-2:09, Tatsuya Maruyama , Ryoma Takeuchi , Shuho Dairokuno and Kento Nishi . Takeuchi set his 2:08:20 PB at Gold Coast in July, and Dairokuno is fresh off a great run at the final Kyushu Corporate Ekiden. Masatoshi Sakata , Yota Ifuku , Madoka Tanihara and Daiji Kawai have both come close to sub-2:09 in recent races and could factor in. 57th Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Elite...

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