japan running news

by Brett Larner On Jan. 12 the organizers of the Jan. 23 National Interprefectural Men's Ekiden Championships , also known as the Hiroshima Ekiden , released the provisional entry lists for this year's 16th running. An interesting event featuring teams from each of Japan's 47 prefectures made up of runners from the top pro teams, universities, high schools and junior high schools, the Interprefectural Ekiden is in essence the overall national championship. Among the noteworthy names on the entry lists: The first stage features Takashi Ichida (Kagoshima), one of 2010 National H.S. Ekiden Champions Kagoshima Jitsugyo H.S.' star twins, against H.S. Nationals First Stage winner Kazuto Nishiike (Hyogo) and Kota Murayama (Miyagi), twin brother of 28:23 high school Kenta Murayama. Led by Shogo Nakamura (Mie), six men on the H.S.-only stage hold 5000 m PBs under 14 minutes, making it the most competitive of the H.S. stages. The J.H.S. Second Stage is led by 2000 m J.H.S. na...

by Brett Larner Alongside the Ageo City Half Marathon it was a big weekend at the 212th Nittai University Time Trials, Nov. 20-21 in Yokohama. Among the highlights: While 19 year-old Kenyan Bitan Karoki (Team S&B) added another sub-28 time in the 10000 m to his name with a 27:46.19 win, Jobu University senior Yusuke Hasegawa ran the fastest mark of the year by a Japanese university student, 28:07.47, to take 2nd in the A-heat. In the B-heat, Sendai Ikuei High School junior Yuma Hattori set the fastest time of the year by a Japanese high school student, 28:58.08. Three Josai University men broke 29 minutes for the first time; Josai head coach Seiji Kushibe , Jobu head coach Katsuhiko Hanada and Ageo winner Suguru Osako 's coach at Waseda University, Yasuyuki Watanabe , were all teammates at Waseda during their student days. Former 2:08 marathoner and national champion Team Nissin Shokuhin assistant coach Kenjiro Jitsui , 41, set a masters' 10000 m national record of 29:16...