Kazami Breaks 100 km World Record at Lake Saroma – Brett Larner

Running on the same course where Japan’s Takahiro Sunada set the road 100 km world record of 6:13:33 twenty years ago, 2:17:23 marathoner Nao Kazami bested a deep and competitive field to win the Lake Saroma 100 km Ultramarathon in a world record 6:09:14.

Part of a lead group of at least five that went through the marathon split in 2:33:36, on pace for 6:04:01, Kazami lost touch with the lead as rivals Koji Hayasaka and Takehiko Gyoba surged to open a roughly 30 second lead that lasted until nearly 75 km. But in the last quarter of the race Kazami was the only one who could sustain the early pace, pulling away to open a lead of over 11 minutes and take more than 4 minutes off the world record. Kazami also bettered the 100 km track world record of 6:10:20 set in 1978 well before he was born by the late Don Ritchie.

Trying to stay with Kazami, Hayasaka dropped Gyoba after 75 km to take 2nd in 6:20:49. Gyoba, an editor for Japan’s largest running magazine, lasted for 3rd in 6:22:55. Coming up from the second group after having been more than 3 minutes behind Gyoba at 90 km, Hideaki Yamauchi ran down Yoshiki Kawauchi, younger brother of Boston Marathon winner Yuki Kawauchi, for 4th in 6:23:49, with Kawauchi breaking his PB by almost 14 minutes in 6:28:35 for 5th. Kazami, Hayasaka and Gyoba all stand to be named to Japan’s national team for this year’s 100 km World Championships in Croatia.

In the women’s race, most of the lead pack trailed behind experienced ultra runner Mai Fujisawa, Fujisawa splitting 3:10:03 at the marathon point and 3:45:26 to the pack’s 3:11:34 and 3:47:17. But ahead of her, national-level triathlete Konoka Azumi was trying to make the race hers, hitting the marathon in 3:09:37 and 50 km in 3:45:23. Fujisawa reeled her, pushing on unchallenged to win in 7:37:56, but Azumi’s effort was enough for 2nd in 7:47:07. Aiko Kanematsu was the first runner from the chase pack to make it across the line, taking 3rd in 7:49:18 to seal up a spot on the World Championships team.

33rd Lake Saroma 100 km Ultramarathon

Hokkaido, 6/24/18

Men
1. Nao Kazami – 6:09:14 – WR
2. Koji Hayasaka – 6:20:49
3. Takehiko Gyoba – 6:22:55
4. Hideaki Yamauchi – 6:23:49
5. Yoshiki Kawauchi – 6:28:35

Women
1. Mai Fujisawa – 7:37:56
2. Konoka Azumi – 7:47:07
3. Aiko Kanematsu – 7:49:18
4. Yuko Kusunose – 7:55:19
5. Tomomi Nakashima – 8:01:20

Kazami Breaks 100 km World Record at Lake Saroma – Brett Larner – Japan Running News

33rd Lake Saroma 100 km Ultramarathon

author: GRR