Kinukawa Takes a Small Step Forward With Nittai Win

by Brett Larner

Chronically injured women's 10000 m junior national record holder Megumi Kinukawa (Team Mizuno) took a small step toward making another comeback at the May 29 Nittai University Time Trials. Just a week before the National Championships Kinukawa won the A-heat of the women's 3000 m, running 9:23.12 to win by a margin of over two and a half seconds over Shino Saito (Team Shimamura). Her time was not especially remarkable but the win itself was her first at any distance in several years and is a hopeful sign for one of Japan's most talented young runners.

Nittai University Time Trials Women's 3000 m A-Heat
1. Megumi Kinukawa (Team Mizuno) - 9:23.12
2. Shino Saito (Team Shimamura) - 9:25.71
3. Fumiko Hashimoto (Team Shimamura) - 9:28.89
4. Yuki Numata (Team Shimamura) - 9:29.57
5. Yume Tanaka (Yamanashi Gakuin Prep H.S.) - 9:32.86

(c) 2010 Brett Larner
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