Two district women’s corporate team Ekiden championships, qualifying meets for the national women’s corporate team ekiden championship, were held on 3 November.
In Awaji Island, near Kobe, the 16th Awajishima Women's Ekiden, the district ekiden championships for four separate district – Kansai, Chugoku, Chubu and Hokuriku districts – were held over six-stage 42.195Km course.
Four kilometres into the 6.52Km first stage, Noriko Matsuoka of Suzuki took over the lead. In the second stage, with the brilliant run by Miho Sugimori (national 800m record holder) of Kyocera, the gap between Suzuki and Kyocera was reduced to mere six seconds. However, with Lucy Wangui's stage record run in the 11.97Km third stage, Suzuki's lead over the second place was increased to more than a minute and a half. Although both Tenmaya and Kyocera reduced the Suzuki’s lead in the final stage, at the end Suzuki won by nearly a minute from Tenmaya.
The 17th East JPN Women's Ekiden, over the six-stage 42.195Km course from Saitama prefectural office to Ageo stadium, was also held on 3 November.
Hitachi led after the first stage, followed by Mitsui-Sumitomo, two seconds behind. In the second stage, Mitsui-Sumitomo took over the lead, and then in the third stage, Yoko Shibui, national 10,000m record holder, covered the 10Km third stage in 31:38 and Mitsui-Sumitomo was in commanding lead. With Reiko Tosa, Edmonton Marathon silver medalist, and Chisato Osaki of Mitsui-Sumitomo setting stage best in stage 5 & 6, Mitsui-Sumitomo extended their lead in the final two stages. It was seventh victory for Mitsui-Sumitomo.
The national women’s corporate team ekiden championship is scheduled to be held in Gifu on 17 December.
Ken Nakamura for the IAAF
Awajishima Ekiden
1) Suzuki (Noriko Matsuoka, Yuko Matsuoka, Lucy Wangui, Norie Takahashi, Yoko Yagi, Kaori Akagawa) 2:16:16
2) Tenmaya 2:17:11
3) Kyocera 2:17:45
4) Wacoal 2:18:00
5) Noritz 2:19:19
Best Stages
1 6.52Km Noriko Matsuoka (Suzuki) 20:49
2 3.395Km Miho Sugimori (Kyocera) 10:44
3 11.97Km Lucy Wangui (Suzuki) 37:55
4 5.5Km Michiko Ogawa (Kyocera) 17:59
5 9.56Km Marie Yamagishi (Tenmaya) 30:38
6 5.25Km Yukino Watanabe (Kyocera) 16:51
East JPN Corporate Ekiden Championships
1) Mitsui-Sumitomo (Miki Ohira, Ikuyo Yamashita, Yoko Shibui, Chiaki Iwamoto, Reiko Tosa, Chisato Osaki) 2:13:58
2) Shiseido 2:16:06
3) Panasonic 2:16:47
4) Dai-ichi Life 2:17:00
5) Hokuren 2:17:37
Best Stages
1 6.6Km Kumi Akaishi (Hitachi) 20:47
2 3.695Km Ikuyo Yamashita (Mitsui) 11:29
3 10Km Yoko Shibui (Mitsui) 31:38
4 4Km Miyuki Tomioka (Dai-ichi Life) 12:51
5 11.1Km Reiko Tosa (Mitsui) 35:26
6 6.8Km Chisato Osaki (Mitsui) 21:40
