Onogawa and Takamatsu Take Gold at 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics – Day Five Japanese Results – by Brett Larner – Japan Running News

Following up on yesterday's double silver medal haul, girls' 3000 m favorite Nozomi Musembi Takamatsu and 10000 m race walk entrant Minoru Onogawa delivered PB performances to bring Japan a pair of gold medals on the fifth day of athletics competition at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics.

#1-seeded Takamatsu, 4th at the Eugene World Junior Championships in a then-PB 9:02.85, showed the wisdom of her conservative opener by outclassing the crowd of Africans who PBd in the qualifying round.  Sitting on #2 seed Alina Reh (Germany) through 2000 m, Takamatsu dropped a 2:55 final 1000 m to take over a second off her best and score gold in 9:01.58, almost four seconds better than Reh's silver medal-winning time.  Berhan Demiesa Asgedom (Ethiopia), who PBd in the qualifying round, ran another PB of 9:06.10 to pick up the bronze medal.

In the boys' 10000 m race walk, Onogawa likewise sat on Noel Ali Chama Almazan (Mexico), twice taking the lead before breaking away for good at 9000 m.  Onogawa's time of 42:03.64 was a sizeable PB, his last surge putting him well clear for gold by seven seconds over Russian Vladislav Saraikin.  Almazan held on to bronze another four seconds back in 42:14.11.

The day's sole low point came in the boys' 200 m, where Jun Yamashita, 3rd at this year's National High School Championships, faltered in his quest for a sub-21 clocking and finished 6th in the A final in 21.62 (+0.3).

  The Youth Olympics continue tomorrow through Tuesday.

2014 Youth Olympics Day Five
Nanjing, China, 8/24/14
click here for complete results

Women's 3000 m A Final
1. Nozomi Musembi Takamatsu (Japan) – 9:01.58 – PB
2. Alina Reh (Germany) – 9:05.07
3. Berhan Demiesa Asgedom (Ethiopia) – 9:06.10 – PB
4. Fatuma Chebsi (Bahrain) – 9:12.66
5. Cavaline Nahimana (Burundi) – 9:14.45
6. Jackline Chepkoech (Kenya) – 9:20.43
7. Janat Chemusto (Uganda) – 9:22.42
8. Behafeta Abreha (Azerbaijan) – 9:22.60
9. Maria Magdalena Ifteni (Romania) – 9:29.53
10. Gebrekrstos Weldeghabr (Eritrea) – 9:30.65 – PB

Men's 200 m A Final +0.3
1. Noah Lyles (U.S.A.) – 20.80
2. Baboloki Thebe (Botsawa) – 21.20
3. Chun-Han Yang (Taiwan) – 21.31
4. Akanni Hislop (Trinidad and Tobago) – 21.57
5. Brian Kasinda (Zambia) – 21.61
6. Jun Yamashita (Japan) – 21.62
DQ – Chad Walker (Jamaica)

Men's 10000 m Race Walk
1. Minoru Onogawa (Japan) – 42:03.64 – PB
2. Vladislav Saraikin (Russia) – 42:10.95 – PB
3. Noel Ali Chama Almazan (Mexico) – 42:14.11
4. Cesar Rodriguez (Peru) – 42:26.49
5. Heyonmyeong Joo (South Korea) – 43:51.89 – PB

(c) 2014 Brett Larner
all rights reserved

by Brett Larner – Japan Running News