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Ibrahim Jeilan 27:12.43 at Nittai Time Trials 10000 m

by Brett Larner

In his first serious race since joining Saitama-based Team Honda in April, 2008 World XC Junior Champion Ibrahim Jeilan (Ethiopia) ran a virtually solo 27:12.43 for 10000 m at the 210th Nittai University Time Trials in Yokohama. Accompanied partway by countryman Dejene Asefa (Ethiopia/Team Kurosaki Harima), Jeilan ran the second half of the race solo to clock the 6th-fastest time of the year worldwide. Although not a PB, it was Jeilan's fastest time since running just off the world junior record in 2006 when he recorded his 27:02.81 best. It was also 10 seconds faster than Kenyan Paul Tanui (Team Kyudenko) ran a day earlier to win the 2010 National Jitsugyodan Track and Field Championships.

Honda assistant coach Yosuke Osawa told JRN, "Ever since he ran 27:02 as a teenager Jeilan has lost a bit of ground each year, but since arriving in Japan in April he has been making a comeback. This result shows what potential he's still got. The New Year Ekiden this year should be very interesting."

Asefa held on for 2nd in a solid 27:32.58. With most Japanese corporate runners taking part in the National Jitsugyodan Championships the top Japanese finishers was Nihon University's Naohiro Domoto, 3rd in 28:38.57.

210th Nittai University Time Trials - Top Results
click here for complete results
Men's 10000 m - Heat Nine
1. Ibrahim Jeilan (Ethiopia/Team Honda) - 27:12.43
2. Dejene Asefa (Ethiopia/Team Kurosaki Harima) - 27:32.58
3. Naohiro Domoto (Nihon Univ.) - 28:38.57
4. Masamichi Yasuda (Team Aichi Seiko) - 28:44.32
5. Muryo Takase (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) - 28:44.67
6. Naosato Yoshimura (Team Toyota) - 28:45.16
7. Bernard Waweru (Kenya/Sendai Ikuei H.S.) - 28:54.84
8. Tomoya Shirayanagi (Team Toyota) - 29:02.45
9. Naoto Yoneda (Team Konica Minolta) - 29:03.22
10. Yuma Hattori (Sendai Ikuei H.S.) - 29:03.78

(c) 2010 Brett Larner
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