Cold morning in Koganei city, near Tokyo where took place the 3rd race walk Meeting of Tokyo Gakugei University.
It was quite cold at the start of the race (2° Celsius), but then the temperature has warmed up to reach 7° Celsius.
As always happens in the Land of the Rising Sun's participation is very high, even if comes to university races.
A large part of athletes entered in 5.000m track walk will continue until then to complete the double distance on 10.000m.
About double distance the record of Japan belongs to Eiki Takahashi (38:01:49) established in Nagasaki on December 13, 2015.
Ten athletes will venture up to complete the distance of 20,000m track walk.
Short comments by our colleague Tomoya Ishii - JAP
20.000m track walk men
In 20000m, Yuga Yamashita achieved new national track record of Japan with the time of 1:21:36.7 (previous by Hirofumi Sakai in 1:22:25.4 obtained in 1993).
Yamashita walked alongside with his teammate, Ryosuke Kawagishi (1:22:32.2), until around 13000m.
Third place to Takeshi Nakagawa in 1:28.41.2
Split time of Yamashita
2000m 8:05
4000m 16:18 (8:13)
6000m 24:31 (8:13)
8000m 32:42 (8:11)
10000m 40:53 (8:11)
12000m 49:01 (8:08)
14000m 57:09 (8:09)
16000m 1:05:17 (8:08)
18000m 1:13:30 (8:13)
20000m 1:21:36 (8:06)
10.000m track walk men
A lot of athletes competing in 5.000m track walk continued until 10.000m.
Victory to Fumitaka Oikawa in 40:25.32 in front of Tomohiro Noda (41:36.40).
Third place to Yuki Itoi in 41:48.12.
5.000m track walk men
The 5.000m track walk men took place in two timed sessions: the first reserved for athletes with accreditation times higher than 24.00.00, and the second reserved for athletes with lower times.
Victory to Tomohiro Noda in 20:20.10 in front of Yuki Itoi in 21:04.71 and Katsuhiro Nishiguchi in 21.16.14
Forty athletes at the start, 38 finished the race and 2 DQ.
Women events are:
3000m track walk: only one started and finished;
5000m track walk: 17 athletes started, 16 finished and 1 DQ;
10000m track walk: 7 started and finished
Tomoya Ishii
Japan
(Photos by Yusuke Shirado - JAP)
Yuga Yamashita victory
Fumitaki Oikawa during the race