Kato showcases speed, takes lead

OBIHIRO, Hokkaido — Vancouver Olympic 500-meter speedskating bronze medalist Joji Kato led at the National Sprint Championships after sweeping the men's 500 and 1,000 meters on Tuesday.

Kato, looking for his first national sprint title since 2007, clocked 35.21 seconds in the 500 and 1 minute, 11.47 seconds in the 1,000 for a total of 70.945 points at Meiji Hokkaido-Tokachi Oval.

Yuya Oikawa was second with 71.290 and 2010 champion Ryohei Haga was third with 71.655 going into the final day of competition on Wednesday.

Pre-meet favorite Keiichiro Nagashima, who won the silver in the 500 at the Vancouver Games, got off to a slow start, slumping to ninth.

On the women's side, defending champion Nao Kodaira was in the lead with 76.990 as she won the 500 in 38.50 and the 1,000 in a meet record of 1:16.98.

Maki Tsuji had 77.820 points for second place.

Forty-year-old Tomomi Okazaki, the bronze medalist at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, came in sixth in the 500 in her return from maternity leave.

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