Every year since 2012 that there's been a United Airlines NYC Half, JRN has partnered with the NYRR and November's Ageo City Half Marathon to bring two top-tier collegiate Japanese men to the NYC Half for what's usually been their international debuts. For years we've wanted to extend that program to include top collegiate women, but that has always faced 2 problems. For one, while the half marathon distance is the main focus for Japanese collegiate men due to the stage lengths at the Hakone Ekiden, few collegiate women run it. Those that do run the National University Women's Half Marathon in Matsue, held the same day as the NYC Half.
This year, though, we're finally making it happen in a slightly different way. Amisa Murayama and Nazuki Sasaki of 2025 Mt. Fuji Women's Ekiden national collegiate championship runner-up Tohoku Fukushi University are joining the field for the NYRR's Mastercard New York Mini 10 km on June 6. After running an 18:14 CR for the 5.8 km 3rd leg at October's Morinomiyako Ekiden Sasaki was 2nd overall and the top Japanese finisher on the Mt. Fuji Women's Ekiden longest stage, the 10.5 km 5th leg. Murayama was 2nd overall on the Mt. Fuji anchor stage that climbs 169 m late in its 8.3 km length. Since then Murayama made her international debut with a bronze medal run in March's World University Cross-Country Championships in Italy, but for Sasaki the New York Mini will be her first-ever race outside Japan.
Head coach Masamori Kabuki will be joining them in New York, one of the more interesting young coaches currently working in Japanese athletes given his success in building a small program from nothing and coming just 9 seconds short of scoring a national title against the nation's top teams.
There's a solid field like always at the New York Mini, led by world record holder Agnes Ngetich. It's not likely we'll see either Murayama or Sasaki end up in the top 10, but given their ekiden times they should both have a shot at Ayuko Suzuki's record for the fastest-ever Japanese women's time at the New York Mini, 32:37. JRN will be on-site in NYC with them throughout race weekend.
2026 Mastercard New York Mini 10 km Elite Field Highlights
New York, U.S.A., 6 June 2026
times listed are athletes' best road or track times within last 3 years except where noted
Agnes Ngetich (Kenya) - 28:46 (Valencia 2024)
Tsigie Gebreselama (Ethiopia) - 29:48.34 (Los Angeles 2024)
Klara Lukan (Slovenia) - 29:51 (Ljubljana 2026)
Weini Kelati (U.S.A.) - 30:49 (New York 2025)
Emma Hurley (U.S.A.) - 31:00 (Tokyo 2025)
Jessica McClain (U.S.A.) - 31:13 (Mesa 2026)
Wuga He (China) - 31:14.94 (Walnut 2023)
Hellen Obiri (Kenya) - 31:16 (Manchester 2025)
Amanda Vestri (U.S,A.) - 31:17 (New. York 2024)
Annie Frisbie (U.S.A.) - 31:37 (Charleston 2026)
Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) - 31:39 (Boston 2025)
Annie Rodenfels (U.S.A.) - 31:54 (Boston 2024)
Ednah Kurgat (U.S.A.) - 31:56 (Miramar 2025)
Dakotah Popehn (U.S.A.) - 31:58 (New York 2024)
Emily Venters (U.S.A.) - 32:11 (Boston 2024)
Viola Cheptoo (Kenya) - 32:13 (Atlanta 2022)
Amisa Murayama (Japan) - 32:15.10 (Osaka 2025)
Fionnuala McCormack (Ireland) - 32:19 (Malaga 2022)
Sydney Vaught (U.S.A.) - 32:21.37 (Eugene 2025)
Callie Hughes (U.S.A.) - 32:21.54 (Walnut 2025)
Stephanie Bruce (U.S.A.) - 32:22.45 (London 2024)
Tess Barrett (U.S.A.) - 32:27 (Philadelphia 2026)
Rachel Smith (U.S.A.) - 32:35 (Cape Elizabeth 2024)
Mercy Chelangat (Kenya) - 32:37 (Boston 2024)
Nazuki Sasaki (Japan) - 32:48 (equiv., Mt. Fuji Women's Ekiden 2025)
Sophia King (U.S.A.) - 32:59.93 (Portland 2025)
Madison Offstein (U.S.A.) - 33:09.78 (Azusa 2025)
Elena Haydar (U.S.A.) - 33:30 (Boston 2024)
Katarina Birimac (U.S.A.) - 33:48.47 (Philadelphia 2025)
Lisa Hart (Great Britain) - 34:05 (Winter Park 2026)
Gabi Rooker (U.S.A.) - 34:11 (Charleston 2026)
photos c/o Masamori Kabuki/Tohoku Fukushi Univ., all rights reserved
text © 2026 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
Comments