As usual, the Japanese organization is that of a high level competition.
Today, even more so given the presence of their national manager of Judges, Yukio Seki, who is also a member of the Technical Committee of the IAAF present in Kobe.
The usual great participation that is always seen in Japan and China, and instead unfortunately no longer able to see in the European races.
10 km junior men: 157 athletes at the start
5 km junior women: 94 athletes at the start
20 km men, valid for the Japanese title: 87athletes at the start
20 km women, valid for the Japanese title: 36 athletes at the start.
Cool day with an initial temperature of 8 degrees Celsius, which then reached 10 degrees at the end of the race. Humidity level very low: 39.5%.
Also interesting is the meet with one of the historic names of Race Walking of Spain, Jordi Llopart, invited in Kobe by JAAF as a technical advisor to a number of athletes in support to the head coach Fumio Imamura. His the idea of the "player ratings" which we will discuss later.
20 km Men
Very fast pace from the start with an early lead with the best group composed by Yusuke Suzuki (PB: 1:18:17), Eiki Takahashi (PB: 1:18:41), Isamu Fujisawa (PB: 1:20:03) and Hirooki Arai.
Split time at 5 km 20:03, but already there is a first surprise: Isamu Fujisava is charged after two laps with two Red Card for loss of contact.
Nonetheless he force the pace and still remain in three: Fujisawa, Suzuki and Takahashi.
The 10km are dubbed in 39:42 by the trio of leaders. At short distance Arai.
At this point, is Yusuke Suzuki to take the initiative and together with Takahashi alternate the leadership of the race.
At 15 km They are in three with the time of 59:08.
Insist Suzuki and Takahashi (split between 14 km and 16 km of 7:36) and Fujisawa is forced to leave the company, to avoid a disqualification.
Even a quick pass between 16 and 18 km (7:30) and the pair arrive to a lap to go with the time of 1:14:18.
They walk together again for 1 km and the last 1,000 meters Takahashi force again and puts the end to the fight for the gold.
They finish in this order:
1.- Eiki Takahashi: 1:18:03 (last km in 3:45) that represents the new national record of Japan as well as being the best performance of the current year in the world
2.- Yusuke Suzuki: 1:18:13 (last km in 3:54)
3.- Isamu Fujisawa: 1:19:56 which would have been the new Personal Best
4.- Hirooki Arai: 1:20:35
But to Fujisawa the surprises are not finished: he flies into a villain final in order to broke the threshold of 1:20:00 and improve his PB, without even pay for a moment attention to his technical situation.
A reckless action and so obvious as to force the Chief Judge Akira Fijisaki to DQ him after arrival with the rule of the last 100 meters. Courageus, but right decision.
Who rejoices Hirooki Arai is collecting an unexpected bronze.
20 km Women
The race lives in the initial attempt to Rei Inoue, Kumiko Okada followed by Ai Michiguchi and Ayako Fukuda.
Towards mid-race Ai Michiguchi is disqualified, and the race loses all its charm.
Victory goes to Kumiko Okada in 1:31:57
Rei Inoue silver in 1:34:17 which gives a great deal in the last kilometers
Ayako Fukuda bronze in 1:36:34
Player Ratings
- To the Japan Federation for how they organized these championships: 9
- To the Japanse Club's as they adhered to these championships, in mass: 10
- To Eiki Takahashi for the e corono performance and the technical result: 8.5
- To Isamu Fujisawa to have thrown to the winds as a bronze in the last 100 meters of the race, after saving for 18 km: 4
- To the men's movement of Japanese Race Walking (including juniors) always growing: 7/8
- To the women's movement of Japanese Rac Walking not able to emulate their male colleagues: 5/6
- To the Head Coach of Japan Race Walking, Fumio Imamura, for the results obtained in these years and for the technical management of the team: 9
Rei Inoue and Kumiko Okada together at 10km
Leading group in first lap
Jordi Llopart, advisor for JAAF supervising some athletes