This year, in addition to Tokyo, there was competition for the first race of the year also in Aichi, near Nagoya (JPN) which hosted the 50th edition of the New Year's Day Walk. In fact, an alternative albeit lower level to that of Tokyo near the new Olympic stadium.
The program was 20km for men and 10km for men and women.
The athletes started on the track, left the stadium and completed a course on the road, before returning to the stadium and finishing the race on the usual line of arrival.
The day saw the first start (20km men) at 10:00 (so in effect this can be considered the third walking race of New Year 2019), on a sunny day, no wind, but with a temperature of 4° C.
A good day to compete.
20km men
The star of the race was Yuki Yamazaki (JPN) who had no difficulty in winning with the time for him similar to that of a long distance training session, after walking from start to finish: 1:30:05
These are his split times:
- 5 km: 22:53
- 10km: 45:22 (seconds 5km in 22:29)
- 15km: 1:08:06 (third 5km in 22:44)
- last 5 km in 21:59
Second place for Masato Yoshihara (JPN) that up to 10km was spaced only 50km from the leader, and who finished in 1:38:18.
To note that Masato Yoshihara is the holder of the race record in 1:26:45 established on Jan. 1, 1998).
Third place for Yudai Ozaki (JPN) in 1:58:29
Masato Yoshihara (JPN)
10km men
Victory for Kota Yamada (JPN) in 43:49
Second place for Yuki Yamashita (JPN) in 46:33
Third place for Taiju Inoue (JPN) in 47:03
10km women
Victory for Iwata Nao (JPN) in 50:59
Second place for Haruko Nakagawa (JPN) in 53:25
Third place for Eini Iwase (JPN) in 57.54
(Co-operation and photos by Akihiro Sugimoto - JPN)