Japan dominated 2018 IAU 24 hour Asia & Oceania Championship. Yuri Matsumoto (219.112 km) and Yoshihiko Ishikawa (253.420 km) both from Japan took home gold medals in individual competition. They lead both teams for double gold medals at Team competition with Women aggregated result of 620.181 km and Men 752.474 km. This was fantastic event.

The championship took place on December 1^st-2^nd at Soochow University, Taipei in conjunction with the Soochow 24 Hour race, this year celebrating its 18th edition. The race was organized on 400 m track. The LOC had few international invitees for the open race. Among them was a 27 years old Ivan Penelba Lopez from Spain participating in open race who took early lead in the race. He was running superbly and managed to lead the races during entire 24 hours. Finally reaching over 258 km he was over 5 km ahead of Championship winner Yoshihiko Ishikawa (JPN). Ivan builds secured lead over the time and kept lead over the track at Soochow University.

In the Championship from early hours there were few nations running together. The majority were from Mongolia, Japan and Australia. After 6 hour in the lead we had 3 runners from Mongolia and Japan, 2 from Australia and India. All of them being within 4 km distance. Slowly over time stinging was changing in favour of runners from Japan, Australia and India. However other runners kept very good pace. After 12 hours in top 5 we had 3 runners from Japan and one form Australia and India.

Top 5 men after 12H

• NARAKI, Toshiro (JPN) 135.600 km
• ISHIKAWA, Yoshihiko (JPN) 133.600 km
• TAKAHASHI, Nobuyuki (JPN) 131.200 km
• THWAITES, Michael (AUS) 128.400 km
• HOSAHALLI NARAYANA, Ullas (IND) 125.947 km

It was very similar in women competition. Runners from Mongolia had a very strong opening but after 12 hours we did not have as strong domination as in men field. There were two ladies from Japan, one from Australia, New Zealand and Mongolia.

Top 5 women after 12H

• HAYVICE, Fiona (NZL) 121.481 km
• AOTANI, Mizuki (JPN) 120.000 km
• JONES, Tia (AUS) 118.227 km
• GANBAATAR, Uugantuya (MGL) 118.175 km
• MATSUMOTO, Yuri (JPN) 116.800 km

The next few hours settle the standing in both competitions. Men field was led by 3 Japanese where in women Tia Jones from Australia was leading the pack. It was not over yet, especially in women competition as after 18 hours there were only few meters difference between Tia (AUS) and Fiona Hayvice (NZL) and least than 1.5 km among all top 4 ladies.

When we were getting closed to the end it was more and more exciting as all top runners were in striking distance from each other especially in women competition. In the last 3 hours Yuri from Japan joined the battle with Tia from Australia over 1st place. There was only 600 m difference between both ladies.

In men competition Yoshihiko from Japan has a solid lead of 5.6 km over second teammate Nobuyuki. Ullas from India was just 140m behind second place and it was still 2.5h to go. Finally the standing remains unchanged for men but all three were close to each other and over 250 km.

In women competition Yuri final manage to build a gap and secure gold medal. Second place after a long lead and battle went to Tai from Australia and bronze to Aiko from Japan.

Individual results

Men

1. ISHIKAWA, Yoshihiko (JPN) 253.420 km
2. TAKAHASHI, Nobuyuki (JPN) 252.301 km
3. HOSAHALLI NARAYANA, Ullas (IND) 250.371 km
4. NARAKI, Toshiro (JPN) 246.753 km
5. HORSBURGH, Ewan (AUS) 235.771 km

Women

1. MATSUMOTO, Yuri (JPN) 219.112 km
2. JONES, Tia (AUS) 218.177 km
3. KANEMATSU, Aiko (JPN) 212.700 km
4. HAYVICE, Fiona (NZL) 202.320 km
5. TUFFERY, Dawn (NZL) 202.041 km

Team Results:

Men

1. Japan 752.474 km
2. Australia 675.354 km
3. India 645.936 km

Women

1. Japan 620.818 km
2. Australia 599.654 km
3. New Zealand 563.443 km

This is a great opportunity to thank LOC, Chinese Taipei Federation, other involved for hosting great continental championship.

Jacek Bedkowski

IAU Director of Communication