japan running news

The 104th Kanto Region University Track and Field Championships wrapped with another windy day. In the D2 men's pole vault Hiroto Shinotsuka (Ikuei Univ.) delivered the day's only new meet record, clearing a PB 5.37 m to win by 20 cm. Arie Flores (Nittai Univ.) impressed again, edging Shihori Sato (Juntendo Univ.) in the last 50 m to win the D1 women's 200 m final 23.26 to 23.34 (+2.5) in her 8th race over the 4 days of the meet. Sarah Wanjiru (Daito Bunka Univ.) made it another 5000/10000 double title, running most of the D1 women's 5000 m final with company from Daisy Cherop (Josai Kokusai Univ.) but pulling away to win easily in 15:49.26. Once dropped Cherop folded, ultimately fading to 5th with 2nd going to Airi Tajima (Juntendo Univ.) in 16:09.22. Both the D1 and D2 men's 5000 m were great 3-way last lap battles. 1st-year Rui Suzuki (Waseda Univ.) impressed in the D1 race, throwing in a big surge to catch up to 4th-year Kenyans Victor Kimutai (Josai Un...

The 103rd edition of the Kanto Region University Track and Field Championships wrapped Sunday at Tokyo's National Stadium. Kenyans won four of the five long distance events of the day, with 2nd-year Brian Kipyegon (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) defending his won D1 half marathon title and breaking the MR he set last year with a new 1:01:38 MR. That was over a minute and a half better than 2nd-placer Ren Umezaki (Toyo Univ.) and especially impressive given hot early morning temps of 25˚C. 3rd-year Patrick Kamau (Jobu Univ.) put 6 seconds on Hakone Ekiden Third Stage winner Aoi Ota (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) over the last km to win the D2 title in 1:02:58. In the D1 women's 5000 m, 2nd-year Sarah Wanjiru (Daito Bunka Univ.) scored a double title after breaking the 10000 m MR, winning in 15:44.85 by 5 seconds over Risa Yamazaki (Nittai Univ.). 3rd-year Victor Kimutai (Josai Univ.) took the D1 men's 5000 m title in 13:37.62, just over a second up on 2nd-year Shadrack Kipkemoi (Ni...