On Mar. 26 it was learned that Kanto Gakuin University , which last qualified for the Hakone Ekiden in 2004, has hired female IAAF-certified coach Akari Kishikawa , 33, to join its coaching staff beginning Apr. 1. The Daiichi Seimei women's corporate team is led by head coach Sachiko Yamashita , 54, and the Ritsumeikan University and Josai University women's ekiden teams by assistant coaches Miyuki Tokura , 45, and Yukiko Akaba , 39, but it is virtually unheard of for a woman to be appointed to a university men's ekiden program staff. Kishikawa, who is qualified as a senior psychology counselor among other things, has a proven track record with two national titles to her name in the 800 m in 2010 and 2011. She will support Kanto Gakuin head coach Yoshitaka Nakagawa , 43, and is expected to play a key role in shaping a stronger team. At last October's Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai qualifying race Kanto Gakuin University finished only 23rd. Missing a qualifying spot b...
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