They were held in the morning in Kobe Japan race walking Championships of 20 km men and women and the two U20 races over a distance of 10km.
The day fresh (temperature around 8°) with clear skies facilitated the athletes, while until recently it seemed it should rain.
20km road walk men
In the men's category more than 70 athletes at the start that is given at 9:40 hours.
Immediately goes to lead a group of three athletes who will battle to the end of the race for the victory and for selection for the Olympic Games: Eiki Takahashi, Isamu Fujisawa and Daisuke Matsunaga.
With them in the first kilometers of the race there are also Satoshi Maruo, Takayuki Tanii, and Hirooki Arai.
At short distance follow Kay Kobayashi, Takumi Saitou and Koichiro Morioka, which in fact is already selected for the Rio in 50km.
The split time to 10 km of the three leaders is 38:49 with Takahashi to lead.
At 12 km lead Takahashi and Matsunaga in 46:35, while Fujisawa passes in 46:40, but shortly after, that they pass back together so that at 14km solito time is for all 54:30.
Continue in three at the same pace: 58:33 to 15km.
Shortly after force the pace Fujisawa and Takahashi follows him and distanced a few meters Matsunaga charter by two red cards.
At 16 km the leading pair time is 1:06:24, Matsunaga follows in 1:06:28.
The two red cards are immediately slowing Matsunaga, who hopes to finish the race in third place and earn the selection to Rio.
To 18km Takahashi has forced again the pace and passes in 1:10:23 and distanced Fujisawa (1:10:31).
Matsunaga lost 35" and switches to the bell in 1:10:58.
The games seem to be made, but unfortunately for Matsunaga, comes from the jury the third red card and was stopped 250 meters from the finish.
Eiki Takahashi won in 1:18:26, second Isamu Fujisawa (1:18:45).
The bronze goes to Hirooki Arai, always very nice to see, in 1:19:54.
Fourth place went to Takumi Saitou (1:20:14). Follow Satoshi Maruo (1:20:14) and Takayuki Tanii (1:21:23)
20km road walk women
The race is a much lower technical level.
He has no difficulty in winning Kumiko Okada in 1:29.40.
Silver to Ai Michiguchi in 1:32:30.
Bronze to Rena Goto in 1:32:41.
Results of two U20 (Junior) races are published in the section Results only.
Start of 20 km Men
Isamu Fujisawa
Daisuke Matsunaga leads the race
Eiki Takahashi in final straight