Shibui Runs Again as Daiichi Seimei and Honda Take East Japan Corporate Ekiden

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2010110300284
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/athletics/news/f-sp-tp0-20101103-697806.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner

The 21st Women's and 51st Men's East Japan Jitsugyodan Ekiden Championships, the regional qualifiers for the year-end National Ekiden Championships, took place Nov. 3 in Saitama prefecture. Led by 2009 World Championships marathon silver medalist Yoshimi Ozaki, Team Daiichi Seimei took its first win in the women's race with a time of 2:18:46 for the six-stage, 42.195 km course. The top thirteen teams qualified for the Dec. 19 national championships in Gifu. Team Panasonic placed 2nd, while defending champion Team Toyota Jidoshoki could do no better than 9th.

Former nine-time champion Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo was 6th. Leading them for the first time in a year was 10000 m national record holder Yoko Shibui, who placed 3rd on the anchor stage. After nearly two years of injury setbacks Shibui told reporters, "That felt good. I'm starting to get the desire to run back." Shibui said she had put on as much as 10 kg during her layoff over the last year.

The men's race featured a seven-stage, 77.5 km course. Team Honda returned to the top, winning its fourth East Japan title with a win in 3:50:57. Team Kanebo was 2nd, while defending champion Team Nissin Shokuhin was 4th. The top fourteen teams qualified for the New Year Ekiden national championship.

2010 East Japan Jitsugyodan Ekiden Championships
Men
click here for complete results
Stage Best Performances
First Stage (11.6 km) - Tomoyuki Morita (Team Kanebo) - 35:47
Second Stage (15.3 km) - Tsuyoshi Ugachi (Team Konica Minolta) - 44:49
Third Stage (9.2 km) - Ibrahim Jelian (Ethiopia/Team Honda) - 25:52
Fourth Stage (9.9 km) - Satoru Kitamura (Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 30:04
Fifth Stage (7.4 km) - Daisuke Shimizu (Team Kanebo) - 22:06
Sixth Stage (10.6 km) - Daisuke Matsufuji (Team Kanebo) - 30:01
Seventh Stage (13.5 km) - Yuki Sato (Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 40:03

Top Team Performances - 77.5 km
1. Honda - 3:50:57
2. Kanebo - 3:51:37
3. Konica Minolta - 3:51:48
4. Nissin Shokuhin - 3:52:19
5. Fujitsu - 3:53:50

Women
click here for complete results
Stage Best Performances
First Stage (6.795 km) - Misaki Katsumata (Team Daiichi Seimei) - 21:13
Second Stage (3.1 km) - Felista Wanjugu (Kenya/Team Universal Ent.) - 9:44
Third Stage (12.2 km) - Mika Yoshikawa (Team Panasonic) - 39:46
Fourth Stage (3.8 km) - Doricah Obare (Kenya/Team Hitachi) - 11:59
Fifth Stage (10.0 km) - Hitomi Nakamura (Team Panasonic) - 33:52
Sixth Stage (6.3 km) - Tomomi Tanaka (Team Daiichi Seimei) - 21:09

Top Team Results - 42.195 km
1. Daiichi Seimei - 2:18:46
2. Panasonic - 2:19:19
3. Universal Entertainment - 2:19:21
4. Hokuren - 2:20:10
5. Starts - 2:20:41

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