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Nishihara, Jeilan Take Nittai 5000 m

by Brett Larner
photos by Daniel Seite

#2 Kasumi Nishihara, #1 Hikari Yoshimoto and #3 Mai Ishibashi, all of Bukkyo University, with a large lead on the field in women's 5000 m Heat 24.

Bukkyo University captain and 2010 National University 5000 m champion Kasumi Nishihara, fresh from a key stage win at last month's International Chiba Ekiden, did it again Dec. 5 at the 213th Nittai University Time Trials meet. Nishihara clocked her second 5000 m PB of the year, 15:25.50, to continue her climb through the ranks of Japanese women's distance running. Her teammate Mai Ishibashi was not far behind, 2nd in 15:35.38, while the team's ace, 10000 m national university record holder Hikari Yoshimoto, finished in 16:04.55 after collapsing while running between Nishihara and Ishibashi in the earlier stages of the race.

Ibrahim Jeilan, #30, leads the pack in the men's 5000 m Heat 35.

In the men's A-heat, past World XC jr. champion Ibrahim Jeilan (Ethiopia/Team Honda) outdid newcomer Clement Langat (Kenya/Team Subaru) and Team Nissin Shokuhin's ace Kenyan pair Gideon Ngatuny and Caleb Ndiku to win in 13:15.18. 2009 double 1500 m and 5000 m champion Yuichiro Ueno (Team S&B) was the top Japanese man, 7th overall in 13:33.15.

Jeilan, #30, sets up for his kick with 300 m to go.

213th Nittai University Time Trials Day Two
click here for complete results
Men's 5000 m Heat 35
1. Ibrahim Jeilan (Ethiopia/Team Honda) - 13:15.18
2. Clement Langat (Kenya/Team Subarau) - 13:15.81
3. Gideon Ngatuny (Kenya/Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 13:18.71
4. Caleb Ndiku (Kenya/Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 13:18.96
5. Edward Waweru (Kenya/Team NTN) - 13:20.07
6. Bitan Karoki (Kenya/Team S&B) - 13:24.29
7. Yuichiro Ueno (Team S&B) - 13:33.15
8. Nahom Mesfin (Ethiopia/Team Kanebo) - 13:42.21
9. Yuta Takahashi (Team S&B) - 13:46.35
10. Daniel Gitau (Kenya/Team Fujitsu) - 13:46.66

Women's 5000 m Heat 24
1. Kasumi Nishihara (Bukkyo Univ.) - 15:25.50 - PB
2. Mai Ishibashi (Bukkyo Univ.) - 15:35.38 - PB
3. Yuriko Kosaki (Narita H.S.) - 15:46.66
4. Chinami Mori (Bukkyo Univ.) - 15:48.69
5. Sayuri Oka (Osaka Taiku Univ.) - 15:50.86
6. Saori Noda (Chiharadai H.S.) - 15:52.31
7. Akane Sueyoshi (Team Kyocera) - 15:53.58
8. Risa Kikuchi (Team Hitachi) - 15:54.09
9. Yukie Nagata (Team Toyota Jidoshoki) - 15:54.61
10. Miki Yamada (Josai Univ.) - 15:54.62
-----
18. Hikari Yoshimoto (Bukkyo Univ.) - 16:04.55
22. Yoko Miyauchi (Team Kyocera) - 16:09.56

(c) 2010 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
photos (c) and (p) 2010 Daniel Seite
all rights reserved

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