japan running news

by Brett Larner Aoyama Gakuin University cleaned up at the June 25 National University Ekiden Kanto Regional Qualifier meet, its runners taking three of the four 10000 m heats to put the school into the winner's circle for Aoyama Gakuin's first-ever Nationals appearance. Combined with Aoyama Gakuin's seeded finish at January's Hakone Ekiden to qualify for both the 2011 Izumo Ekiden and the 2012 Hakone Ekiden, this season will be the school's first time making all three major university men's ekidens. With four heats of 10000 m and twenty schools fielding two runners apiece in each heat, the final team standings at the meet are determined by the combined times of all eight runners from each school, an unusual format in the Japanese distance running world. Aoyama Gakuin was already in the lead after a win by junior Takuya Yokoyama in heat two, and junior Ryotaro Otani 's breakaway win in heat three helped to extend the school's slim lead over rival Tei...

http://www.mxtv.co.jp/mxnews/news/201011217.html translated by Brett Larner Once again this year the Setagaya 246 Half Marathon took place Nov. 21 in Setagaya, Tokyo. Under crystal-clear autumn skies it was an ideal race for hobbyists and elites alike. Begun in 2006 as an opportunity for Setagaya-area residents to enjoy their neighborhood in a new way, this year's race was the 5th edition. With demand growing steadily, this year organizers accepted an additional 500 entrants to bring the event up to 1500 runners. 6700 hundred people applied for the spots. A Rikuren-certified course, the Setagaya 246 Half Marathon begins at Komazawa Olympic Park and runs along Route 246 to the River Tama. Aoyama Gakuin University's Takuya Yokoyama won this year's race in 1:05:01, the second-fastest winning time so far. Hobby runners in the field enjoyed the support and cheers of their friends and family along the course, with all involved enjoying the best of autumn Setagaya.

by Brett Larner Strong winds battered the university runners at the head of the 32nd Kanagawa Half Marathon Feb. 7 in Yokohama. A lead pack of five made up of runners from Komazawa, Meiji, Aoyama Gakuin and Senshu universities stayed together through the early stages of the race, but when Aoyama Gakuin's Yasumasa Ogawa attacked the pack quickly strung out. Ogawa, who ran the downhill Sixth Stage at last month's Hakone Ekiden, took over two minutes off his PB to win in 1:04:51. His teammate Shungo Kawamura likewise knocked his PB down by more than two minutes, 4th in 1:05:05, while Aoyama Gakuin first-year Takuya Yokoyama rounded out the top 5 with yet another PB of 1:05:08. The trio's performance continued Aoyama Gakuin's momentum from making the seeded top 10 at Hakone for the first time in over 30 years. All three runners will return next year. Finishing 2nd in 1:05:00 was Meiji University first-year Katsuhiro Tanaka in his half marathon debut. 2010 Kanagawa Half Ma...