japan running news

by Brett Larner Kenyan first-year Charles Ndungu  (Sapporo Yamanote H.S.), the first-ever Kenyan at a high school on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, continued his rapid improvement since arriving in Japan this spring, running 13:35.54 in the June 27  Hokuren Distance Challenge Fukagawa Meet 5000 m A-heat, a PB by over 20 seconds, to finish just behind past Kenyan national XC champion Gideon Ngatuny  (Team Nissin Shokuhin).  A month ago Ndungu's coach Kazuki Kajiyama   promised him an MP3 player for breaking 14 for the first time .  What will he get now?  Ndungu's remarkable run catapults him to the top level of the Japan-based Kenyan high school contingent and makes him a solid contender for the win at next month's National High School Track and Field Championships. University-level competition was thick, with Hakone Ekiden powerhouses Toyo University , Komazawa University  and Waseda University  all recording multiple sub-...

2012 Kansai Corporate Track & Field Championships Baycom Field, Amagasaki, 5/18-20/12 click here for complete results Women's 10000 m 1. Miho Ihara (Team Shikoku Denryoku) - 32:34.55 2. Yoko Aizu (Team Shikoku Denryoku) - 32:36.22 3. Mai Ito (Team Otsuka Seiyaku) - 32:53.08 4. Tomoka Inadomi (Team Wacoal) - 32:59.58 5. Ayumi Sakaida (Team Daihatsu) - 33:04.23 6. Yuki Mitsunobu (Team Kyocera) - 33:04.80 7. Chizuru Ideta (Team Daihatsu) - 33:08.57 8. Misato Horie (Team Noritz) - 33:31.65 9. Chihiro Takato (Team Wacoal) - 33:33.43 10. Kikuyo Tsuzaki (Team Noritz) - 33:47.53 Men's 10000 m 1. Takaya Iwasaki (Team Shikoku Denryoku) - 28:59.28 2. Yasuhito Ikeda (Team NTT Nishi Nihon) - 29:00.46 3. Ryo Yamamoto (Team Sagawa Express) - 29:02.11 4. Ryo Matsumoto (Team Shikoku Denryoku) - 29:05.38 5. Noriyuki Nabetani (Osaka Police Dep't.) - 29:17.60 6. Kenta Iinuma (Team Sagawa Express) - 29:20.48 7. Kazuo Ietani (Team Sanyo Tokushu Seiko) - 29:25.32 8. Sh...

2012 Oda Memorial Track & Field Meet Big Arch Stadium, Hiroshima, Apr. 28-29, 2012 click here for complete results Women's Grand Prix 5000 m 1. Sally Chepyego (Kenya/Team Kyudenko) - 15:19.27 2. Beatrice Wainaina Murugi (Kenya/Team Toyota Jidoshokki) - 15:38.71 3. Toshika Tamura (Matsuyama Univ.) - 15:49.11 4. Ayame Takagi (Meijo Univ.) - 15:54.80 5. Yoko Aizu (Team Shikoku Denryoku) - 15:57.38 6. Azusa Kurusu (Juntendo Univ.) - 16:07.19 7. Yuka Ando (Team Mizuno) - 16:10.19 8. Sayuri Sendo (Team Toyota Jidoshokki) - 16:10.85 9. Michi Numata (Team Toyota Jidoshokki) - 16:18.85 10. Mika Tanimizu (Team Shikoku Denryoku) - 16:22.46 Men's Grand Prix 5000 m 1. Charles Ndirangu (Kenya/Team JFE Steel) - 13:36.29 2. Jeremiah Karemi (Kenya/Toyokawa H.S.) - 13:40.64 3. Takayuki Matsumiya (Team Konica Minolta) - 13:42.27 4. Ryo Matsumoto (Team Shikoku Denryoku) - 13:46.02 5. Yasuhito Ikeda (Team NTT Nishi Nihon) - 13:46.58 6. Yasuhiro Tago (Team Chugoku Denryoku)...

by Brett Larner Two of Japan's big spring 10-milers took place this weekend, the Himejijo Road Race on Saturday and the Karatsu Road Race on Sunday.  In Himeji, two-time 5000 m national champion Kazuyoshi Tokumoto  (Team Nissin Shokuhin) won his second road race of the year, outkicking Takuji Morimoto  (Team Chugoku Denryoku) to win the men's 10 mile race in 47:34.  It was also his second time winning Himejijo, having taken top honors at the 2006 race.  Tokumoto plans to run next month's Biwako Mainichi Marathon before leaving Nissin to take a university coaching position.  In the women's 5 km, Yoko Aizu  (Team Shikoku Denryoku) had an easy win in 16:17, 11 seconds ahead of teammate Yuka Tagahara . Sunday's Karatsu Road Race proved to be the bigger of the two.  In the men's 10 mile race, Komazawa University graduate Sota Hoshi  (Team Fujitsu) had the first big result of his pro career, outkicking double 1500 m and 5000 m national champion...