japan running news

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2011041001000311.html http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/110410/spg1104101719004-n1.htm translated and edited by Brett Larner At the Apr. 10 Daegu International Marathon, a selection race for the Japanese women's marathon team for this summer's Daegu World Championships, Yuko Machida (Team Nihon ChemiCon) was the top Japanese woman. Finishing 7th in a time of 2:32:39, her chances of making the team are very slim. Among other contenders for the World Championships team, Tomomi Higuchi (Team Daihatsu) was 8th in 2:33:48, while Seika Iwamura (Team Daihatsu) was 12th in 2:36:33. Atsede Besuye (Ethiopia) won in 2:25:12. Veteran Takeshi Hamano (Team Toyota) was the top Japanese man, 14th in 2:16:49. With the cancellation of March's Nagoya International Women's Marathon selection race and its designated replacement, April's Nagano Marathon, following the March 11 disasters in northeastern Japan, the Japanese federation Rikuren na...

by Brett Larner Paul Kuira continued the legacy of Sendai Ikuei High School, alma mater of Kenyan greats Samuel Wanjiru and Daniel Njenga, by winning the men`s 10000 m at the June 1st Niigata Time Trials track and field meet in a strong 27:51.92, just outside the Olympic A-standard time of 27:50.00. It was the first time under 28 minutes and a PB of over 30 seconds for the 18 year-old native of Nyandarua, Kenya. Samuel Wanjiru, running as pacemaker for teammate Yu Mitsuya as Mitsuya once more tried to make the Olympic A-standard, led for the first 8 km, the two Team Toyota Kyushu runners accompanied by Kuira, Team Asahi Kasei`s Ryuji Ono, Team Toyota`s Takeshi Hamano, and Team Toyota Boshoku`s John Kariuki. When Mitsuya began to flag after 8km, Kuira and Ono quickly pulled away from the pack, Wanjiru remaining behind to help Mitsuya. Ono was unable to match the younger Kuira`s kick, finishing just back in 27:53.19. His time was an improvement of almost 4 seconds over his May 17 perfor...