Seiko Tokyo Grand Prix: Kitaguchi, Mahuchik, and Rising Stars Impress
The Seiko Tokyo Grand Prix, held on Sunday, May 18, delivered high-level performances, thrilling finishes, and several meeting records across track and field events. As a Gold-level stop on the World Athletics Continental Tour, Tokyo hosted elite athletes and breakout talent from around the globe. Olympic champions like Haruka Kitaguchi and Yaroslava Mahuchik headlined a competitive day that featured dominant wins, close battles, and surprises in both sprints and distance races.
Women’s Javelin Throw
Olympic and world champion Haruka Kitaguchi clinched her first win of the season, throwing 64.60m in the fifth round after opening with 61.41m. She claimed victory in front of her home fans, with compatriot Momone Ueda finishing second at 60.66m.
Women’s High Jump
Yaroslava Mahuchik, also an Olympic and world champion, cleared 1.96m to win by a comfortable 11 cm margin. She attempted 2.00m once before retiring. This marked her fourth straight win in Asia, following victories in Xiamen (1.97m), Keqiao (2.00m), and Doha’s What Gravity Challenge (2.02m world lead).
Mahuchik commented: “I am satisfied with the competition. Of course the result is not good, but I am happy with that because my body was not ready to jump today.”
Men’s High Jump
Tomohiro Shinno, two-time Japanese champion and 2022 World Championship finalist, won with a clearance of 2.27m.
Men’s Long Jump
Australia’s Liam Adcock claimed victory with an 8.20m leap in the sixth round, overtaking Japan’s Hibika Tsuha, who had led with 8.15m.
Women’s 100m Hurdles
Tonea Marshall of the U.S. broke the meeting record, winning in 12.54—eight hundredths faster than Brianna Rollins’ 2014 mark. Fellow American Alia Armstrong finished second in 12.68.
Women’s 1500m
Australia’s Georgia Griffith ran 4:01.10 to win by five seconds and break the meeting record by more than a second. Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka, an Olympic finalist, took second in 4:06.08.
Women’s 3000m
Rose Davies defended her Tokyo title, winning in 8:43.38—a new meeting record. Kenya’s Helen Lobun followed in 8:49.28.
Men’s 3000m
Australia’s Jude Thomas stunned the field, winning in a personal best and meeting record of 7:39.69. Ethiopia’s Ermias Girma also broke the previous record with 7:40.42.
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase
Japan’s Ryuji Miura, national record holder and Olympic finalist, triumphed at home in 8:18.96, ahead of Ethiopia’s Milkesa Fikadu (8:20.10).
Men’s 400m
Australia’s Reece Holder clocked 44.76 to win over Japan’s Fuga Sato (45.23). Holder, who holds a PB of 44.53, recently finished second in the 4x400m relay at the World Relays.
Women’s 100m
Australia’s Bree Rizzo shocked the field with an 11.38 win into a -0.9 m/s headwind, edging Olympic relay champion Twanisha Terry (11.42). World champion Sha’Carri Richardson placed fourth in 11.47.
Rizzo said: “It’s a season opener for the US athletes and they will be very strong at the World Championships in Tokyo. I really look up to those athletes, so to come out on top was pretty exciting for an Australian athlete.”
Men’s 100m
Japan’s Hiroki Yanagita ran 10.06 (+1.1 m/s) to beat U.S. U20 record holder Christian Miller (10.08) and 2019 world champion Christian Coleman (10.11).
Coleman reflected: “Each race, every opportunity I have is a mental, internal battle for me to get better. I felt good things today and I want to just keep getting better off it.”
Men’s 200m
Robert Gregory of the U.S. edged Olympic champion André De Grasse in a tight race, 20.24 to 20.29.
Men’s 110m Hurdles
Japan’s Rachid Muratake continued his strong form, winning in 13.16 (-1.1 m/s), ahead of compatriot Tatsuki Abe (13.27).
Men’s 400m Hurdles
Trevor Bassitt of the U.S., world bronze medallist in 2022, won in 48.50, narrowly beating Japan’s Ken Toyoda (48.55).
