TAICANG, China -- Olympic bronze medalist Hirooki Arai led a Japanese sweep of the podium in the men's 50-kilometer race at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships on Saturday, finishing first in 3 hours 44 minutes 25 seconds.
Arai won his first title at the meet, which ranks after the Olympics and the world championships as the most prestigious competition in the sport.
Hayato Katsuki finished second, with Satoshi Maruo following in third to complete the sweep.
Japan also won the team gold, which is based on the combined results of the top three members of each team.
"We have accomplished our goals," the 29-year-old Arai said of winning both the individual and team titles. "As a national team, we could not have done it better than this."
Arai won the bronze in the 50-kilometer race at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
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Ikeda adds 20-km gold
Meanwhile on Sunday, Japan also struck gold in the men's 20-kilometer race, as collegian Koki Ikeda -- three days after turning 20 -- won the individual title in 1 hour 21 minutes 13 seconds, making him the first-ever Japanese champion in the event.
Compatriot Toshikazu Yamanishi finished fourth and Isamu Fujisawa seventh as Japan also captured the team gold.
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