Saturday at Kanaguri and Nittai

Two big meets happened Saturday, one in Kumamoto and the other in Yokohama. At Kumamoto’s Kanaguri Memorial Meet, Benard Koech (Kyudenko) turned in the performance of the day with a 13:13.52 meet record to win the men’s 5000 m A-heat by just 0.11 seconds over Emmanuel Kipchirchir (SGH). The top four were all under 13:20, with 10000 m national record holder Kazuya Shiojiri (Fujitsu) bouncing back from a DNF at last month’s The TEN to take the top Japanese spot at 7th overall in 13:24.57. The B-heat was also decently quick, Shadrack Rono (Subaru) winning in 13:21.55 and Shoya Yonei (JR Higashi Nihon) running a 10-second PB to get under 13:30 for the first time in 13:29.29 for 6th. Paris Olympics marathoner Akira Akasaki (Kyudenko) was 9th in 13:30.62.

South Sudan’s Abraham Guem (Ami AC) also set a meet record in the men’s 1500 m A-heat in 3:38.94. 3000 mSC national record holder Ryuji Miura made his debut with the Subaru corporate team, running 3:39.78 for 2nd. 1500 m national record holder Kazuki Kawamura (Toenec) was 6th in 3:42.58.

Gilbert Kiprotich (Sunbelx) led the top three men in the 10000 m under 27:45, winning in 27:41.48 by 0.33 over teammate Samson Ndirangu and Antipas Kibet (Komori Corp.) 3rd in 27:43.18. Yudai Katakawa (Asia Univ.) was the top Japanese man with a PB of 28:11.20 for 5th.

The meet record also fell in the women’s 1500 m, where Esther Muthoni (Nitori) ran 4:06.54 for the win over national record holder Nozomi Tanaka (New Balance) by 1.44 seconds. Sherry Drury (Tsuyama H.S.) was 9th in 4:25.45. Tanaka doubled in the 800 m but lost there too, Rin Kubo (Higashi Osaka Keiai H.S.) taking 1st in 2:05.35 to Tanaka’s 2:06.08. Yuma Yamamoto (Sekisui Kagaku) took the 3000 m in 9:14.87.

Hellen Ekarare (Toyota Jidoshokki) was one of three Kenyan women under 15:20 in the women’s 5000 m A-heat, taking the top spot in 15:17.94. Wakana Kabasawa (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) was 4th in 15:22.04 for top Japanese. Dolphine Omare (U.S.E.) continued a solid season that saw her run 1:06:07 at the Marugame Half in February with a PB of 31:36.45 to win the 10000 m by almost two minutes over Paris Olympics marathon trials winner Yuka Suzuki (Daiichi Seimei).

The women’s 3000 m was excellent, with Margaret Akidor (Comodi Iida) winning in 8:39.18, Caroline Kariba (Japan Post) 2nd in 8:47.34 in her corporate league debut after graduating from national champion Kamimura Gakuen H.S. last month, and Daisy Cherop (Sendai Ikuei H.S.) 3rd in 8:52.18. Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) won the 5000 m A-heat in 15:29.93.