by Brett Larner
Although Japan's regional university and corporate track and field championships take place in May ahead of June's National Championships, it's a quirk of the calendar that the National University Track and Field Championships and National Corporate Track and Field Championships are held in September, for the country's distance runners meaning that they serve as little more than a tuneup for ekiden season after a summer of training in Hokkaido and elsewhere. This weekend the National University Championships take place in Osaka. It's another quirk that for the country's university distance men Nationals are less competitive than May's Kanto Region University Championships, but across all events many of the best current collegiate athletes will still be lining up.
One of the big question is whether Yoshihide Kiryu (Toyo Univ.) will run. Injured in the spring, Japan's top sprinter missed both the National Championships and World Championships, watching from home as Trayvon Bromell (U.S.A.) and Andre De Grasse (Canada) shared Worlds bronze in Beijing last month and as Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (Josai Prep H.S.) became the new Japanese media darling. Kiryu has said he won't decide until the last minute whether he will stage his comeback at the National University Championships, but if he starts it will be in one of the first events held Friday morning.
Last year's 1500 m and 5000 m double champion Enock Omwamba (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) is playing it conservative this year, entering only the 5000 m where he is up against 2013 champion Daniel Muiva Kitonyi (Nihon Univ.), newcomer Patrick Mathenge Wambui (Nihon Univ.) and 2015 National University Half Marathon champion Tadashi Isshiki (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.).
Two-time 10000 m champion Kitonyi will double but faces tough competition from his teammate Wambui, only a first-year but already sub-28 with a solid 27:54.98 PB this summer. First-year Dominic Nyairo (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) also comes in with a PB faster than Kitonyi's and will be looking for payback after getting disqualified following his win at Kanto Regionals. Prominent absences include sub-28 man Ken Yokote (Meiji Univ.) and Kanto Regionals D2 5000 m and 10000 m double champion Hironori Tsuetaki (Chuo Gakuin Univ.) who is also this year's 3000 mSC champion. In their absence last year's runner-up Kentaro Hirai (Kyoto Univ.) returns as the top Japanese seed.
The women's field seems to show an increasing geographic distribution of schools, especially in the distance events where Kyoto-area schools like Ritsumeikan University and Bukkyo University long held control. National University Ekiden champ Ritsumeikan's defending 5000 m champion Natsuki Omori (Ritsumeikan Univ.) returns but is ranked only #3 behind rivals Rina Nabeshima (Kanoya Taiiku Univ.) and Mai Shoji (Chukyo Univ.). In the 10000 m its top woman Kotona Ota is ranked only 9th, well behind #1 seed Ayumi Uehara (Matsuyama Univ.) who comes in as the only sub-33 woman.
Uehara's teammate Anju Takamizawa (Matsuyama Univ.) leads the women's 3000 mSC with a 9:54.95 junior national record best and a national title at June's National Championships. Other events featuring 2015 National Championships winners include the men's 110 mH, women's 800 m, women's shot put and women's heptathlon. Seven events besides the women's steeple feature junior national record holders, with six more not including relays featuring members of the 2015 Beijing World Championships team. JRN will be on-site to cover the National University Championships live throughout the weekend.
84th National University Track and Field Championships Top Entrants
Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Sept. 11-13, 2015
click here for complete entry lists
Men’s 100 m
Yoshihide Kiryu (Toyo Univ.) – 10.01 – Junior national record holder, Collegiate national record holder, 2013 World Championships, 2014 World Junior Championships bronze medal
Takuya Nagata (Hosei Univ.) – 10.19 – 2015 National University Individual Champioinships winner, 2015 Universiade, 2015 World Championships
Asuka Cambridge (Nihon Univ.) – 10.21 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Kazuma Oseto (Hosei Univ.) – 10.25 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 World Championships, 2015 Universiade
Yuki Koike (Keio Univ.) – 10.32 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Universiade
Takuya Kawakami (Chuo Univ.) – 10.33 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Men’s 200 m
Masafumi Naoki (Chuo Univ.) - 20.44 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Kotaro Taniguchi (Chuo Univ.) – 20.45 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 Universiade, 2015 World Championships
Yuki Koike (Keio Univ.) – 20.61 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Universiade
Takuya Nagata (Hosei Univ.) – 20.63 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade, 2015 World Championships
Kazuma Oseto (Hosei Univ.) – 20.64 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 Universiade, 2015 World Championships
Masaharu Mori (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 2014 World Junior Championships
Men’s 400 m
Takamasa Kitagawa (Juntendo Univ.) – 45.52 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 World Relays, 2015 World Championships
Kentaro Sato (Josai Univ.) – 45.58 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Naoki Kobayashi (Tokai Univ.) – 45.79 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 World Championships
Nobuya Kato (Waseda Univ.) – 45.88 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 World Relays
Julian Walsh (Toyo Univ.) – 45.92 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 World Relays, 2015 Universiade
Men’s 800 m
Renya Maeda (Meiji Univ.) – 1:48.08 – 2014 National Sports Festival winner
Naoto Arayasu (Juntendo Univ.) – 1:48.32 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Daisuke Sakurai (Kyoto Univ.) – 1:48.48 – 2014 National University Championships winner
Men’s 1500 m
Patrick Mathenge Wambui (Nihon Univ.) – 3:41.13
Tsukasa Anzai (Juntendo Univ.) – 3:43.58
Renya Maeda (Meiji Univ.) – 3:44.21
Hiroya Inoue (Jobu Univ.) – 3:44.30
Tenchi Kamitani (Kwansei Gakuin Univ.) – 3:44.72 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Men’s 5000 m
Enock Omwamba (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) – 13:28.41 – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Daniel Muiva Kitonyi (Nihon Univ.) – 13:35.81 – 2013 National University Championships winner
Patrick Mathenge Wambui (Nihon Univ.) – 13:37.41
Keisuke Nakatani (Komazawa Univ.) – 13:38.08 – 2015 Universiade
Hiroki Matsueda (Juntendo Univ.) – 13:42.34
Hazuma Hattori (Toyo Univ.) – 13:44.22
Tadashi Isshiki (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) – 13:44.96 – 2015 National University Half Marathon winner, 2015 Universiade half marathon silver medalist
Kazuma Taira (Waseda Univ.) – 13:45.74
Lazarus Motanya (Obirin Univ.) – 13:47.78 – 2014-15 National University Individual Championships 1500 m winner
Toshiyuki Yanagi (Waseda Univ.) – 13:47.96
Men’s 10000 m
Patrick Mathenge Wambui (Nihon Univ.) – 27:54.98
Dominic Nyairo (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) – 28:11.49
Daniel Muiva Kitonyi (Nihon Univ.) – 28:15.99 – 2013-14 National University Championships winner
Kentaro Hirai (Kyoto Univ) - 28:36.72 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Shin Kimura (Meiji Univ.) – 28:37.33
John Kariuki (Daiichi Kogyo Univ.) – 28:42.74 – 2015 Kyushu Region University Championships winner
Taiga Machizawa (Chuo Univ.) – 28:43.51
Ryohei Nishiyama (Kanagawa Univ.) – 28:44.88
Hiroki Matsueda (Juntendo Univ.) – 28:46.42
Sho Tokunaga (Chuo Univ.) – 28:48.19
Men’s 110 m Hurdles
Genta Masuno (Kokusai Budo Univ.) – 13.58 – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Regional University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Shunya Takayama (Meiji Univ.) – 13.76 – 2015 National Championships winner
Takumu Furuya (Waseda Univ.) – 13.79
Taio Kanai (Hosei Univ.) – 13.92 – Junior national record holder, 2014 World Junior Championships
Masahiro Kagimoto (Ritsumeikan Univ.) – 13.94 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men’s 400 m Hurdles
Shotaro Tanabe (Chuo Univ.9 – 50.14 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Takaoki Hashimoto (Nihon Univ.) – 50.38
Atsushi Yamada (Tokai Univ.) – 50.41
Takahiro Matsumoto (Keio Univ.) – 50.57 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships
Men’s 3000 m Steeplechase
Kazuya Shiojiri (Juntendo Univ.) – 8:45.66 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Shunya Tsuda (Tsukuba Univ.) – 8:46.74 – 2013-2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Hiroshi Yanokura (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) – 8:52.45
Takumu Inui (Kwansei Gakuin Univ.) – 8:54.31 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Issei Miyagi (Tokai Univ.) – 8:57.20 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men's 10000 m Racewalk
Daisuke Matsunaga (Toyo Univ.) – 39:33.16 – Junior national record holder, 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Fumitaka Oikawa (Toyo Univ.) – 40:05.84
Tomohiro Noda (Meiji Univ.) – 40:19.53 – 2015 Universiade
Toshikazu Yamanishi (Kyoto Univ.) – 40:40.96 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men’s High Jump
Yuji Hiramatsu (Tsukuba Univ.) – 2.28 m – 2015 Kanto University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner, 2015 World Championships
Yu Nakazawa (Tokai Univ.) – 2.22 m – 2014 World Junior Championships
Kazuhiro Ota (Kanazawa Seiryo Univ.) – 2.21 m – 2015 Hokushinetsu Region University Championships winner
Daisuke Nakajima (Nihon Univ.) – 2.20 m – 2014 World Junior Championships
Men’s Pole Vault
Tomoki Yamamoto (Nittai Univ.) – 5.42 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Kota Suzuki (Chukyo Univ.) – 5.40 m – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Shunta Henmi (Chukyo Univ.) – 5.35 m
Ryoya Funamoto (Nittai Univ.) – 5.30 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Ryohei Yamakata (Osaka Kyoiku Univ.) – 5.30 m – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Men’s Long Jump
Tomoya Takamasa (Juntendo Univ.) – 8.03 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Hiroyuki Fukasawa (Nihon Univ.) – 7.88 m
Daiki Oda (Nihon Univ.) – 7.87 m
Men’s Triple Jump
Ryoma Yamamoto (Juntendo Univ.) – 16.28 m – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2014 National University Championships winner
Yugo Takahashi (Ritsumeikan Univ.) – 16.21 m – 2014 World Junior Championships
Hikaru Ikehata (Tokai Univ.) – 16.20 m
Men’s Shot Put
Aiyu Suzuki (Nihon Univ.) – 17.15 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Daichi Morishita (Tsukuba Univ.) – 16.91 m
Takahiro Tsutsui (Nihon Univ.) – 16.88 m
Hikaru Murakami (Kokushikan Univ.) – 16.51 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men’s Discus Throw
Kengo Anbo (Tokai Univ.) – 55.79 m – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Shigeyuki Maisawa (Tokai Univ.) – 55.54 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Masateru Yugami (Chukyo Univ.) – 53.62 m – 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Men’s Hammer Throw
Yushiro Hosaka (Tsukuba Univ.) – 70.46 m – 2014 National University Championships winner
Kunihiro Sumi (Chukyo Univ.) – 66.79 m – Junior national record holder, 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Masataka Nashiro (Tokai Univ.) – 65.08 m
Kento Hori (Juntendo Univ.) – 64.83 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championshps winner
Yuta Kanehara (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.) – 64.76 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men’s Javelin Throw
Taisei Aibara (Nihon Univ.) – 77.40 m
Shu Mori (Nihon Univ.) – 76.12 m – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Homare Mori (Chuo Univ.) – 75.59 m – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Takuma Nakanishi (Osaka Taiiku Univ.) – 74.56 m – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championshps winner
Men’s Decathlon
Kazuya Kawasaki (Juntendo Univ.) – 7679 – 2014 National University Championships winner
Tsuyoshi Shimizu (Chukyo Univ.) – 7634 – 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Yuichi Takeuchi (Tokyo Gakugei Univ.) – 7382
Men’s 4x100 m Relay
Hosei Univ. – 38.81
Chuo Univ. – 38.95
Waseda Univ. – 39.11
Nittai Univ. – 39.36
Tsukuba Univ. – 39.41
Men’s 4x400 m Relay
Nihon Univ. – 3:04.93
Hosei Univ. – 3:05.84
Josai Univ. – 3:06.05
Waseda Univ. – 3:06.12
Juntendo Univ. – 3:06.39
Women’s 100 m
Yuki Miyazawa (Toyama Univ.) – 11.56 – 2015 Hokushinetsu Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Anna Doi (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 11.57 – Junior national record holder, 2012 London Olympics, 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 World Relays, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Sayaka Adachi (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) – 11.66 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Arisa Niwa (Chukyo Univ.) – 11.68
Masumi Aoki (International Pacific Univ.) – 11.68 – 2015 Chukyo Shikoku Region University Championships winner
Anna Fujimori (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) – 11.70 – 2014 National University Championships winner
Women’s 200 m
Anna Doi (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 23.63 – 2012 London Olympics, 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Seika Aoyama (Osaka Seikei Univ.) – 23.86 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 World Championships
Hiromi Shioya (Surugadai Univ.) – 23.92
Mizuki Nakamura (Osaka Seikei Univ.) – 23.99 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Tomoka Tsuchihasi (Iwate Univ.) – 24.16 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2014 National University Championships winner
Women’s 400 m
Seika Aoyama (Osaka Seikei Univ.) – 52.99 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner, 2015 World Championships
Nanako Matsumoto (Tsukuba Univ.) – 53.59
Asami Shintaku (Chuo Univ.) – 53.78 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Women’s 800 m
Hana Yamada (Tokyo Gakugei Univ.) – 2:06.21 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 National Championships winner
Ran Urabe (Tokyo Gakugei Univ.) – 2:06.66 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Ryoko Hirano (Tsukuba Univ.) – 2:06.75 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Women’s 1500 m
Maya Iino (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) – 4:16.37
Mina Ueda (Josai Univ.) – 4:17.29
Rina Koeda (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 4:17.54 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Maki Izumida (Rikkyo Univ.) – 4:18.83 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Universiade
Chinatsu Uchiyama (Tamagawa Univ.) – 4:19.26
Women’s 5000 m
Rina Nabeshima (Kanoya Taiiku Univ.) – 15:31.85
Mai Shoji (Chukyo Univ.) – 15:34.73
Natsuki Omori (Ritsumeikan Univ.) – 15:39.96 – 2013-14 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Sakurako Fukuuchi (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 15:43.14 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Rina Koeda (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 15:44.02 – 2015 Universiade
Sakie Arai (Osaka Gakuin Univ.) – 15:44.04 – 2015 Universiade
Mai Takahashi (Nittai Univ.) – 15:45.66
Maya Iino (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) – 15:46.30
Ayumi Uehara (Matsuyama Univ.) – 15:47.06 – 2015 Chugoku Shikoku Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Kanna Tamaki (Meijo Univ.) – 15:48.85
Women’s 10000 m
Ayumi Uehara (Matsuyama Univ.) – 32:56.38 – 2015 Chugoku Shikoku Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Fuyuka Kimura (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 33:02.54 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Kanade Furuya (Matsuyama Univ.) – 33:02.98
Yuri Karasawa (Nittai Univ.) – 33:03.25
Rina Nabeshima (Kanoya Taiiku Univ.) – 33:08.00 – 2014 National University Championships winner
Maki Izumida (Rikkyo Univ.) – 33:15.18 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Universiade
Ruka Nakamura (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) – 33:16.64
Honoka Yuzawa (Meijo Univ.) – 33:20.69
Kotona Ota (Ritsumeikan Univ.) – 33:24.73
Kanae Imai (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.) – 33:31.13
Women’s 100 m Hurdles
Masumi Aoki (International Pacific Univ.) – 13.28 – 2015 Chugoku Shikoku Region University Championships winner, 2014-15 National University Individual Championships winner
Anri Tanaka (Konan Univ.) – 13.30
Miku Fujiwara (Mukogawa Joshi Univ.) – 13.38 – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Meg Hemphill (Chuo Univ.) – 13.47 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Women’s 400 m Hurdles
Miku Fujisawa (Mukogawa Joshi Univ.) – 57.84 – 2014 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Ayaka Nishida (Kobe Univ.) – 58.03 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Akiko Ito (Tsukuba Univ.) – 58.52 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Women’s 3000 m Steeplechase
Anju Takamizawa (Matsuyama Univ.) – 9:54.95 – Junior national record holder, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner, 2015 National Championships winner
Soyoka Segawa (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 10:12.14
Kanako Kitamoto (Meijo Univ.) – 10:12.40 – 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Moeno Shimizu (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) – 10:13.67 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championshps winner
Chisato Sekine (Chuo Univ.) – 10:19.78
Women’s 10000 m Racewalk
Rena Goto (Chubu Gakuin Univ.) – 45:13.53 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships
Sae Matsumoto (Kokushikan Univ.) – 46:07.59 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Nozomi Okazaki (Bukkyo Univ.) – 46:47.21 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Women’s High Jump
Yuka Soma (Aichi Kyoiku Univ.) – 1.81 m – 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Julia Tsuda (Higashi Osaka Univ.) – 1.81 m – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Haruka Nakano (Waseda Univ.) – 1.78 m
Women’s Pole Vault
Yuko Enomoto (Tsukuba Univ.) – 4.00 m – 2014 National University Championships winner
Remi Odajima (Seiwa Univ.) – 3.90 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Aki Kabuno (Seiwa Univ.) – 3.80 m
Women’s Long Jump
Sato Mizuguchi (Tokyo Gakugei Univ.) – 6.20 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Akina Nakagawa (Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ.) – 6.18 m – 2015 Kyushu Region University Championships winner
Yumi Uchinokura (Waseda Univ.) – 6.16 m – 2014 World Junior Championships
Women’s Triple Jump
Mariko Morimoto (Nihon Joshi Taiiku Univ.) – 12.85 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Rina Ichimura (Denki Tsushin Univ.) – 12.78 m
Chika Uchiumi (Tokai Univ.) – 12.74 m
Women’s Shot Put
Aya Ota (Fukuoka Univ.) – 15.71 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner, 2015 National Championships winner
Shoko Matsuda (Kokushikan Univ.) – 15.43 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Mai Yamamoto (Osaka Taiiku Univ.) – 15.14 m – 2014 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Women’s Discus Throw
Natsumi Fujimori (Juntendo Univ.) – 52.97 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Minori Tsujikawa (Tsukuba Univ.) – 48.33 m
Riko Chinen (Tsukuba Univ.) – 47.86 m
Women’s Hammer Throw
Hitomi Katsuyama (Tsukuba Univ.) – 62.96 m – Junior national record, 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Shiori Ikawa (Shikoku Univ.) – 58.59 m
Misaki Fukushima (Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ.) – 57.80 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Women’s Javelin Throw
Ai Yamauchi (Osaka Seikei Univ.) – 58.76 m – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Kiho Kuze (Tsukuba Univ.) – 57.97 m – Junior national record holder, meet record holder, 2014 World Junior Championships, 2013-14 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Marina Saito (Kokushikan Univ.) – 57.90 m
Women’s Heptathlon
Meg Hemphill (Chuo Univ.) – 5678 – Junior national record, Collegiate national record, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 National Championships winner
Eri Utsunomiya (Sonoda Gakuen Joshi Univ.) – 5460 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Akiko Ito (Tsukuba Univ.) – 5389
Women’s 4x100 m Relay
Osaka Seikei Univ. – 45.25
Konan Univ. – 45.36
Sugadaira Univ. – 45.59
Fukuoka Univ. – 45.71
Daito Bunka Univ. – 45.76
Women’s 4x400 m Relay
Ritsumeikan Univ. – 3:38.55
Konan Univ. – 3:39.80
Tsukuba Univ. – 3:41.45
Chuo Univ. – 3:41.69
Nittai Univ. – 3:41.80
(c) 2015 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
Although Japan's regional university and corporate track and field championships take place in May ahead of June's National Championships, it's a quirk of the calendar that the National University Track and Field Championships and National Corporate Track and Field Championships are held in September, for the country's distance runners meaning that they serve as little more than a tuneup for ekiden season after a summer of training in Hokkaido and elsewhere. This weekend the National University Championships take place in Osaka. It's another quirk that for the country's university distance men Nationals are less competitive than May's Kanto Region University Championships, but across all events many of the best current collegiate athletes will still be lining up.
One of the big question is whether Yoshihide Kiryu (Toyo Univ.) will run. Injured in the spring, Japan's top sprinter missed both the National Championships and World Championships, watching from home as Trayvon Bromell (U.S.A.) and Andre De Grasse (Canada) shared Worlds bronze in Beijing last month and as Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (Josai Prep H.S.) became the new Japanese media darling. Kiryu has said he won't decide until the last minute whether he will stage his comeback at the National University Championships, but if he starts it will be in one of the first events held Friday morning.
Last year's 1500 m and 5000 m double champion Enock Omwamba (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) is playing it conservative this year, entering only the 5000 m where he is up against 2013 champion Daniel Muiva Kitonyi (Nihon Univ.), newcomer Patrick Mathenge Wambui (Nihon Univ.) and 2015 National University Half Marathon champion Tadashi Isshiki (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.).
Two-time 10000 m champion Kitonyi will double but faces tough competition from his teammate Wambui, only a first-year but already sub-28 with a solid 27:54.98 PB this summer. First-year Dominic Nyairo (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) also comes in with a PB faster than Kitonyi's and will be looking for payback after getting disqualified following his win at Kanto Regionals. Prominent absences include sub-28 man Ken Yokote (Meiji Univ.) and Kanto Regionals D2 5000 m and 10000 m double champion Hironori Tsuetaki (Chuo Gakuin Univ.) who is also this year's 3000 mSC champion. In their absence last year's runner-up Kentaro Hirai (Kyoto Univ.) returns as the top Japanese seed.
The women's field seems to show an increasing geographic distribution of schools, especially in the distance events where Kyoto-area schools like Ritsumeikan University and Bukkyo University long held control. National University Ekiden champ Ritsumeikan's defending 5000 m champion Natsuki Omori (Ritsumeikan Univ.) returns but is ranked only #3 behind rivals Rina Nabeshima (Kanoya Taiiku Univ.) and Mai Shoji (Chukyo Univ.). In the 10000 m its top woman Kotona Ota is ranked only 9th, well behind #1 seed Ayumi Uehara (Matsuyama Univ.) who comes in as the only sub-33 woman.
Uehara's teammate Anju Takamizawa (Matsuyama Univ.) leads the women's 3000 mSC with a 9:54.95 junior national record best and a national title at June's National Championships. Other events featuring 2015 National Championships winners include the men's 110 mH, women's 800 m, women's shot put and women's heptathlon. Seven events besides the women's steeple feature junior national record holders, with six more not including relays featuring members of the 2015 Beijing World Championships team. JRN will be on-site to cover the National University Championships live throughout the weekend.
84th National University Track and Field Championships Top Entrants
Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Sept. 11-13, 2015
click here for complete entry lists
Men’s 100 m
Yoshihide Kiryu (Toyo Univ.) – 10.01 – Junior national record holder, Collegiate national record holder, 2013 World Championships, 2014 World Junior Championships bronze medal
Takuya Nagata (Hosei Univ.) – 10.19 – 2015 National University Individual Champioinships winner, 2015 Universiade, 2015 World Championships
Asuka Cambridge (Nihon Univ.) – 10.21 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Kazuma Oseto (Hosei Univ.) – 10.25 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 World Championships, 2015 Universiade
Yuki Koike (Keio Univ.) – 10.32 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Universiade
Takuya Kawakami (Chuo Univ.) – 10.33 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Men’s 200 m
Masafumi Naoki (Chuo Univ.) - 20.44 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Kotaro Taniguchi (Chuo Univ.) – 20.45 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 Universiade, 2015 World Championships
Yuki Koike (Keio Univ.) – 20.61 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Universiade
Takuya Nagata (Hosei Univ.) – 20.63 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade, 2015 World Championships
Kazuma Oseto (Hosei Univ.) – 20.64 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 Universiade, 2015 World Championships
Masaharu Mori (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 2014 World Junior Championships
Men’s 400 m
Takamasa Kitagawa (Juntendo Univ.) – 45.52 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 World Relays, 2015 World Championships
Kentaro Sato (Josai Univ.) – 45.58 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Naoki Kobayashi (Tokai Univ.) – 45.79 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 World Championships
Nobuya Kato (Waseda Univ.) – 45.88 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 World Relays
Julian Walsh (Toyo Univ.) – 45.92 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 World Relays, 2015 Universiade
Men’s 800 m
Renya Maeda (Meiji Univ.) – 1:48.08 – 2014 National Sports Festival winner
Naoto Arayasu (Juntendo Univ.) – 1:48.32 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Daisuke Sakurai (Kyoto Univ.) – 1:48.48 – 2014 National University Championships winner
Men’s 1500 m
Patrick Mathenge Wambui (Nihon Univ.) – 3:41.13
Tsukasa Anzai (Juntendo Univ.) – 3:43.58
Renya Maeda (Meiji Univ.) – 3:44.21
Hiroya Inoue (Jobu Univ.) – 3:44.30
Tenchi Kamitani (Kwansei Gakuin Univ.) – 3:44.72 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Men’s 5000 m
Enock Omwamba (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) – 13:28.41 – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Daniel Muiva Kitonyi (Nihon Univ.) – 13:35.81 – 2013 National University Championships winner
Patrick Mathenge Wambui (Nihon Univ.) – 13:37.41
Keisuke Nakatani (Komazawa Univ.) – 13:38.08 – 2015 Universiade
Hiroki Matsueda (Juntendo Univ.) – 13:42.34
Hazuma Hattori (Toyo Univ.) – 13:44.22
Tadashi Isshiki (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) – 13:44.96 – 2015 National University Half Marathon winner, 2015 Universiade half marathon silver medalist
Kazuma Taira (Waseda Univ.) – 13:45.74
Lazarus Motanya (Obirin Univ.) – 13:47.78 – 2014-15 National University Individual Championships 1500 m winner
Toshiyuki Yanagi (Waseda Univ.) – 13:47.96
Men’s 10000 m
Patrick Mathenge Wambui (Nihon Univ.) – 27:54.98
Dominic Nyairo (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) – 28:11.49
Daniel Muiva Kitonyi (Nihon Univ.) – 28:15.99 – 2013-14 National University Championships winner
Kentaro Hirai (Kyoto Univ) - 28:36.72 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Shin Kimura (Meiji Univ.) – 28:37.33
John Kariuki (Daiichi Kogyo Univ.) – 28:42.74 – 2015 Kyushu Region University Championships winner
Taiga Machizawa (Chuo Univ.) – 28:43.51
Ryohei Nishiyama (Kanagawa Univ.) – 28:44.88
Hiroki Matsueda (Juntendo Univ.) – 28:46.42
Sho Tokunaga (Chuo Univ.) – 28:48.19
Men’s 110 m Hurdles
Genta Masuno (Kokusai Budo Univ.) – 13.58 – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Regional University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Shunya Takayama (Meiji Univ.) – 13.76 – 2015 National Championships winner
Takumu Furuya (Waseda Univ.) – 13.79
Taio Kanai (Hosei Univ.) – 13.92 – Junior national record holder, 2014 World Junior Championships
Masahiro Kagimoto (Ritsumeikan Univ.) – 13.94 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men’s 400 m Hurdles
Shotaro Tanabe (Chuo Univ.9 – 50.14 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Takaoki Hashimoto (Nihon Univ.) – 50.38
Atsushi Yamada (Tokai Univ.) – 50.41
Takahiro Matsumoto (Keio Univ.) – 50.57 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships
Men’s 3000 m Steeplechase
Kazuya Shiojiri (Juntendo Univ.) – 8:45.66 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Shunya Tsuda (Tsukuba Univ.) – 8:46.74 – 2013-2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Hiroshi Yanokura (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) – 8:52.45
Takumu Inui (Kwansei Gakuin Univ.) – 8:54.31 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Issei Miyagi (Tokai Univ.) – 8:57.20 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men's 10000 m Racewalk
Daisuke Matsunaga (Toyo Univ.) – 39:33.16 – Junior national record holder, 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Fumitaka Oikawa (Toyo Univ.) – 40:05.84
Tomohiro Noda (Meiji Univ.) – 40:19.53 – 2015 Universiade
Toshikazu Yamanishi (Kyoto Univ.) – 40:40.96 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men’s High Jump
Yuji Hiramatsu (Tsukuba Univ.) – 2.28 m – 2015 Kanto University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner, 2015 World Championships
Yu Nakazawa (Tokai Univ.) – 2.22 m – 2014 World Junior Championships
Kazuhiro Ota (Kanazawa Seiryo Univ.) – 2.21 m – 2015 Hokushinetsu Region University Championships winner
Daisuke Nakajima (Nihon Univ.) – 2.20 m – 2014 World Junior Championships
Men’s Pole Vault
Tomoki Yamamoto (Nittai Univ.) – 5.42 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Kota Suzuki (Chukyo Univ.) – 5.40 m – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Shunta Henmi (Chukyo Univ.) – 5.35 m
Ryoya Funamoto (Nittai Univ.) – 5.30 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Ryohei Yamakata (Osaka Kyoiku Univ.) – 5.30 m – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Men’s Long Jump
Tomoya Takamasa (Juntendo Univ.) – 8.03 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Hiroyuki Fukasawa (Nihon Univ.) – 7.88 m
Daiki Oda (Nihon Univ.) – 7.87 m
Men’s Triple Jump
Ryoma Yamamoto (Juntendo Univ.) – 16.28 m – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2014 National University Championships winner
Yugo Takahashi (Ritsumeikan Univ.) – 16.21 m – 2014 World Junior Championships
Hikaru Ikehata (Tokai Univ.) – 16.20 m
Men’s Shot Put
Aiyu Suzuki (Nihon Univ.) – 17.15 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Daichi Morishita (Tsukuba Univ.) – 16.91 m
Takahiro Tsutsui (Nihon Univ.) – 16.88 m
Hikaru Murakami (Kokushikan Univ.) – 16.51 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men’s Discus Throw
Kengo Anbo (Tokai Univ.) – 55.79 m – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Shigeyuki Maisawa (Tokai Univ.) – 55.54 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Masateru Yugami (Chukyo Univ.) – 53.62 m – 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Men’s Hammer Throw
Yushiro Hosaka (Tsukuba Univ.) – 70.46 m – 2014 National University Championships winner
Kunihiro Sumi (Chukyo Univ.) – 66.79 m – Junior national record holder, 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Masataka Nashiro (Tokai Univ.) – 65.08 m
Kento Hori (Juntendo Univ.) – 64.83 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championshps winner
Yuta Kanehara (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.) – 64.76 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Men’s Javelin Throw
Taisei Aibara (Nihon Univ.) – 77.40 m
Shu Mori (Nihon Univ.) – 76.12 m – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Homare Mori (Chuo Univ.) – 75.59 m – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Takuma Nakanishi (Osaka Taiiku Univ.) – 74.56 m – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championshps winner
Men’s Decathlon
Kazuya Kawasaki (Juntendo Univ.) – 7679 – 2014 National University Championships winner
Tsuyoshi Shimizu (Chukyo Univ.) – 7634 – 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Yuichi Takeuchi (Tokyo Gakugei Univ.) – 7382
Men’s 4x100 m Relay
Hosei Univ. – 38.81
Chuo Univ. – 38.95
Waseda Univ. – 39.11
Nittai Univ. – 39.36
Tsukuba Univ. – 39.41
Men’s 4x400 m Relay
Nihon Univ. – 3:04.93
Hosei Univ. – 3:05.84
Josai Univ. – 3:06.05
Waseda Univ. – 3:06.12
Juntendo Univ. – 3:06.39
Women’s 100 m
Yuki Miyazawa (Toyama Univ.) – 11.56 – 2015 Hokushinetsu Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Anna Doi (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 11.57 – Junior national record holder, 2012 London Olympics, 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 World Relays, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Sayaka Adachi (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) – 11.66 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Arisa Niwa (Chukyo Univ.) – 11.68
Masumi Aoki (International Pacific Univ.) – 11.68 – 2015 Chukyo Shikoku Region University Championships winner
Anna Fujimori (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) – 11.70 – 2014 National University Championships winner
Women’s 200 m
Anna Doi (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 23.63 – 2012 London Olympics, 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Seika Aoyama (Osaka Seikei Univ.) – 23.86 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 World Championships
Hiromi Shioya (Surugadai Univ.) – 23.92
Mizuki Nakamura (Osaka Seikei Univ.) – 23.99 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Tomoka Tsuchihasi (Iwate Univ.) – 24.16 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2014 National University Championships winner
Women’s 400 m
Seika Aoyama (Osaka Seikei Univ.) – 52.99 – 2015 World Relays, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner, 2015 World Championships
Nanako Matsumoto (Tsukuba Univ.) – 53.59
Asami Shintaku (Chuo Univ.) – 53.78 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Women’s 800 m
Hana Yamada (Tokyo Gakugei Univ.) – 2:06.21 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 National Championships winner
Ran Urabe (Tokyo Gakugei Univ.) – 2:06.66 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Ryoko Hirano (Tsukuba Univ.) – 2:06.75 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Women’s 1500 m
Maya Iino (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) – 4:16.37
Mina Ueda (Josai Univ.) – 4:17.29
Rina Koeda (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 4:17.54 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Maki Izumida (Rikkyo Univ.) – 4:18.83 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Universiade
Chinatsu Uchiyama (Tamagawa Univ.) – 4:19.26
Women’s 5000 m
Rina Nabeshima (Kanoya Taiiku Univ.) – 15:31.85
Mai Shoji (Chukyo Univ.) – 15:34.73
Natsuki Omori (Ritsumeikan Univ.) – 15:39.96 – 2013-14 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Sakurako Fukuuchi (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 15:43.14 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Rina Koeda (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 15:44.02 – 2015 Universiade
Sakie Arai (Osaka Gakuin Univ.) – 15:44.04 – 2015 Universiade
Mai Takahashi (Nittai Univ.) – 15:45.66
Maya Iino (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) – 15:46.30
Ayumi Uehara (Matsuyama Univ.) – 15:47.06 – 2015 Chugoku Shikoku Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Kanna Tamaki (Meijo Univ.) – 15:48.85
Women’s 10000 m
Ayumi Uehara (Matsuyama Univ.) – 32:56.38 – 2015 Chugoku Shikoku Region University Championships winner, 2015 Universiade
Fuyuka Kimura (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 33:02.54 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Kanade Furuya (Matsuyama Univ.) – 33:02.98
Yuri Karasawa (Nittai Univ.) – 33:03.25
Rina Nabeshima (Kanoya Taiiku Univ.) – 33:08.00 – 2014 National University Championships winner
Maki Izumida (Rikkyo Univ.) – 33:15.18 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 Universiade
Ruka Nakamura (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) – 33:16.64
Honoka Yuzawa (Meijo Univ.) – 33:20.69
Kotona Ota (Ritsumeikan Univ.) – 33:24.73
Kanae Imai (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.) – 33:31.13
Women’s 100 m Hurdles
Masumi Aoki (International Pacific Univ.) – 13.28 – 2015 Chugoku Shikoku Region University Championships winner, 2014-15 National University Individual Championships winner
Anri Tanaka (Konan Univ.) – 13.30
Miku Fujiwara (Mukogawa Joshi Univ.) – 13.38 – 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Meg Hemphill (Chuo Univ.) – 13.47 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Women’s 400 m Hurdles
Miku Fujisawa (Mukogawa Joshi Univ.) – 57.84 – 2014 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Ayaka Nishida (Kobe Univ.) – 58.03 – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Akiko Ito (Tsukuba Univ.) – 58.52 – 2014 World Junior Championships
Women’s 3000 m Steeplechase
Anju Takamizawa (Matsuyama Univ.) – 9:54.95 – Junior national record holder, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner, 2015 National Championships winner
Soyoka Segawa (Daito Bunka Univ.) – 10:12.14
Kanako Kitamoto (Meijo Univ.) – 10:12.40 – 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Moeno Shimizu (Tokyo Nogyo Univ.) – 10:13.67 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championshps winner
Chisato Sekine (Chuo Univ.) – 10:19.78
Women’s 10000 m Racewalk
Rena Goto (Chubu Gakuin Univ.) – 45:13.53 – 2014 World Junior Championships, 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships
Sae Matsumoto (Kokushikan Univ.) – 46:07.59 – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Nozomi Okazaki (Bukkyo Univ.) – 46:47.21 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Women’s High Jump
Yuka Soma (Aichi Kyoiku Univ.) – 1.81 m – 2015 Tokai Region University Championships winner
Julia Tsuda (Higashi Osaka Univ.) – 1.81 m – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Haruka Nakano (Waseda Univ.) – 1.78 m
Women’s Pole Vault
Yuko Enomoto (Tsukuba Univ.) – 4.00 m – 2014 National University Championships winner
Remi Odajima (Seiwa Univ.) – 3.90 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Aki Kabuno (Seiwa Univ.) – 3.80 m
Women’s Long Jump
Sato Mizuguchi (Tokyo Gakugei Univ.) – 6.20 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Akina Nakagawa (Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ.) – 6.18 m – 2015 Kyushu Region University Championships winner
Yumi Uchinokura (Waseda Univ.) – 6.16 m – 2014 World Junior Championships
Women’s Triple Jump
Mariko Morimoto (Nihon Joshi Taiiku Univ.) – 12.85 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Rina Ichimura (Denki Tsushin Univ.) – 12.78 m
Chika Uchiumi (Tokai Univ.) – 12.74 m
Women’s Shot Put
Aya Ota (Fukuoka Univ.) – 15.71 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner, 2015 National Championships winner
Shoko Matsuda (Kokushikan Univ.) – 15.43 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Mai Yamamoto (Osaka Taiiku Univ.) – 15.14 m – 2014 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Women’s Discus Throw
Natsumi Fujimori (Juntendo Univ.) – 52.97 m – 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Minori Tsujikawa (Tsukuba Univ.) – 48.33 m
Riko Chinen (Tsukuba Univ.) – 47.86 m
Women’s Hammer Throw
Hitomi Katsuyama (Tsukuba Univ.) – 62.96 m – Junior national record, 2014 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Shiori Ikawa (Shikoku Univ.) – 58.59 m
Misaki Fukushima (Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ.) – 57.80 m – 2015 National University Individual Championships winner
Women’s Javelin Throw
Ai Yamauchi (Osaka Seikei Univ.) – 58.76 m – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Kiho Kuze (Tsukuba Univ.) – 57.97 m – Junior national record holder, meet record holder, 2014 World Junior Championships, 2013-14 National University Championships winner, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner
Marina Saito (Kokushikan Univ.) – 57.90 m
Women’s Heptathlon
Meg Hemphill (Chuo Univ.) – 5678 – Junior national record, Collegiate national record, 2015 Kanto Region University Championships winner, 2015 National Championships winner
Eri Utsunomiya (Sonoda Gakuen Joshi Univ.) – 5460 – 2015 Kansai Region University Championships winner
Akiko Ito (Tsukuba Univ.) – 5389
Women’s 4x100 m Relay
Osaka Seikei Univ. – 45.25
Konan Univ. – 45.36
Sugadaira Univ. – 45.59
Fukuoka Univ. – 45.71
Daito Bunka Univ. – 45.76
Women’s 4x400 m Relay
Ritsumeikan Univ. – 3:38.55
Konan Univ. – 3:39.80
Tsukuba Univ. – 3:41.45
Chuo Univ. – 3:41.69
Nittai Univ. – 3:41.80
(c) 2015 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
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