Takayuki Matsumiya Gets “A” Standard in Kim McDonald 10,000m at Cardinal

Becomes Third-Fastest in Japanese History; Satoshi Irifune runs 27:56.33

Konica-Minolta’s Takayuki Matsumiya got what he came for in last night’s Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational: the Olympic “A” standard for the men’s 10,000m and a big PB of 27:41.75 in finishing fourth overall. Running strongly the entire way, Matsumiya did not want a repeat of Cardinal 2005, when poor pacemaking took the lead pack hopelessly off-pace by midway. Despite winning that year with a PB and a 2:00 effort the final 800m, Takayuki missed the Helsinki world championships’ “A” standard by just two-tenths of a second. Although thoughts of the Japanese national record crossed his mind leading up to the race, Takayuki is content for now to have become the third-fastest performer in Japanese history, trailing only Toshinari Takaoka’s 27:35.09 from 2001 and Takeyuki Nakayama’s 27:35.33 from 1987.

With his 5000m and 10000m “A” standards now cleared, Takayuki can turn his attention fully to the Japan National Championships, which will be held in Kanagawa the weekend of June 27th-29th.

Kanebo’s Satoshi Irifune came up just short in his bid also for the “A” standard, but nevertheless ran an impressive 27:56.33, a personal result second only to his 27:53.93 at the 2001 Cardinal meet.