japan running news

At around 10:00 a.m. on May 17, the city of Kashiwazaki received multiple reports of a bear on the roads used as the course for the Kashiwazaki Shiokaze Marathon being held at the time. Determining that it would be dangerous to continue the race, city officials stopped the event. There were no injuries, and the bear's size remains unknown. A local hunting association examined the city and said that based on footprints and other evidence it was possible that what was seen might have been a wild boar. According to city officials, the reported bear was seen on Prefectural Road 73 in Okouchi Shinden in a mountainous area about 4 km southwest of Kashiwazaki Station, a road used as an out-and-back section of both the half marathon and marathon. Over 2200 people were participating in the race, but because runners were already on the return leg there were few people left. Organizers stopped those still running at a water station and used police cars and motorcycles to ensure their safety....

A section of insulation material fell from the ceiling of Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, the official venue for squash competition at September's Nagoya Asian Games. There were no injuries, but the city suspended use of the arena until its safety could be guaranteed, resulting in the cancelation of the Asian Games squash test event which was scheduled to have begun on May 14. It is not yet clear whether the arena will be usable for the Asian Games as planned. According to city officials, arena staff found that the insulation material had fallen onto a work walkway 13 m above the ground on the night of May 11. The fallen material was 3.6 m long, 50 cm wide and 2.5 km thick, and was found to be waterlogged. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is possible that it was caused by rainwater leaking in from the roof. The same insulation material is installed across the entire ceiling, and the city plans to check for the extent of the possible flooding. Asked whether the arena will be re...

The JAAF announced on May 14 that in collaboration with the East Asian Athletics Association, the 5th East Asian Half Marathon Championships will be held as part of the 2027 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon in April next year. It will be the first time the East Asian Half will be staged in Japan. The race will be held on the Gifu Seiryu Half course starting and finishing at Gifu Memorial Center at the same time as the regular race. Only the results of athletes representing East Asia member countries will be considered in scoring. The East Asian Athletics Association is made up of Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea and Taiwan. The 1st edition of the East Asian Half Marathon was held in 2023 in Hong Kong, with the 2nd through 4th editions held in China. source article: https://www.rikujyokyogi.co.jp/archives/207139 translated by Brett Larner

  After finishing 15th at the Hakone Ekiden in January and dropping off the Hakone podium for the first time in 20 years, Toyo University  is on a comeback mission. At the May 4 National University Ekiden Qualifying Meet at Kanagawa's Lemon Gas Stadium Toyo finished 5th overall in 3:58:51.88, scoring a place at November's Nationals after missing out last time around. 3rd-year Shion Jinnai , who led the first of the qualifying meet's 4 heats of 10000 m, said, "Our theme this season is 'getting back to our roots.' We have a new captain and some great 1st-years, and we're going for top 3 at Hakone." Jinnai talked about some changes in the team since the disappointing last season, saying, "We're still doing the same group training, but we're also now putting more effort into individual activity out side of that, things like aerobic development outside the scheduled practices. We have team practices twice a day on weekdays when there are class...

On May 11 Taisho University announced the launch of the school's new track and field team this year, with Masami Soeda named as its first head coach. With Taisho celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, its decision to launch a track team is a core part of its sports enhancement initiative aimed at improving student athletic performance and elevating the school's image. Soeda had previously demonstrated his ability as a coach at Kokushikan University where he led it to 8-straight Hakone Ekidens from the 93rd to 100th editions. Taisho also named Nobuharu Sato , previously involved in scouting and coaching at the Fujitsu corporate team and at Komazawa University , as head of scouting and as strengthening coach in tandem with Soeda. A statement from Taisho University said, "As an institution of higher education we place value on both developing human capability and interaction with the local community, and we want create new value in university sports. We are starting...

The Michitaka Kinami Memorial Meet in Osaka was the weekend's main event on the track, and women's pole vault NR holder Misaki Morota (Art Home) led the way with its biggest result. After struggling with injuries the last couple of years, Morota was back with a 4.50 m national record on her 1st attempt at the height, bettering the 4.48 m NR she set back in 2023 and outdoing 2nd place by 25 cm. Morota packed it in at that point and didn't try for 4.55 m, but as she looked back to peak form expect to see her try to take the record further this season. Other highlights from Kinami: Nanako Matsumoto (Toho Ginko) and Morgan Mitchell (Australia) both broke the meet record in the women's 400 m, Matsumoto getting the win in 52.24 and Mitchell 2nd in 52.27. Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (Australia) outran Ayano Shiomi (Iwatani Sangyo) for the win in the women's 800 m 2:01.85 to 2:04.09, while NR holder Rin Kubo (Sekisui Kagaku) struggled in the start of her corporate league ...

Shunsuke Shikama (Logisteed) and Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) won the Sendai International Half Marathon Sunday in Sendai, Shikama in 1:01:31 and Njeri in 1:09:20. Mizuki Nishimura (Tenmaya) was the top Japanese woman at 2nd overall. The men's race went through 5 km in 14:34 and 10 km in 29:22. Shikama ran alongside top competition including Shoki Yamaguchi (Soka Univ.), who has been running well in half marathons this season, and Tokyo World Championships marathon team member Naoki Koyama (Honda). On a course with many small ups and downs, Shikama attacked on a downhill just after 15 km, quickly breaking free of the lead group of 7. 13 seconds up by 20 km, Shikama covered the last 1.0975 km in 3:06 to seal his first Sendai title. A graduate of Juntendo University , Shikama is in his 4th season with Logisteed. At the 2024 National Corporate Half Marathon he ran 1:00:41, and at last year's East Japan Corporate Ekiden he won the Third Stage. In his marathon d...