Yoshimoto Over Nishihara at Kansai Regionals

by Brett Larner

On the first genuinely hot day of the year, 10000 m university national record holder Hikari Yoshimoto (Bukkyo Univ.) took the win in the women's 5000 m at the 2010 Kansai Regional University Track and Field Championships on May 21. Yoshimoto led start to finish with a quick 3:03 first kilometer before settling into a more moderate pace. She finished in only 15:44.57, an indication perhaps of the high temperatures, but still had a lead of over 23 seconds on runner-up Risa Takenaka (Ritsumeikan Univ.). Defending champion Kasumi Nishihara (Bukkyo Univ.), who set the meet record of 15:32.89 at last year's Kansai Regionals, was clearly not on form as she was 6th in only 16:44.46. Both Yoshimoto and Nishihara are scheduled to race the 5000 m and 10000 m at next month's National Track and Field Championships.

In the men's 10000 m, Hiroki Mitsuoka (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.), the only man in the field with a PB under 29:30, won in a leisurely 30:07.82.

2010 Kansai Regional University Track and Field Championships - Top Finishers
Women's 5000 m - click for complete results
1. Hikari Yoshimoto (Bukkyo Univ.) - 15:44.57
2. Risa Takenaka (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 16:07.65
3. Chinami Mori (Bukkyo Univ.) - 16:15.69
4. Michi Numata (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 16:37.94
5. Yoko Miki (Osaka Gakuin Univ.) - 16:39.47
6. Kasumi Nishihara (Bukkyo Univ.) - 16:44.46

Men's 10000 m - click for complete results
1. Hiroki Mitsuoka (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.) - 30:07.82
2. Kazuki Hayashi (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.) - 30:45.41
3. Eiji Teramoto (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 30:49.25

(c) 2010 Brett Larner
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