Skip to main content

Yoshihisa Hosaka Gets World Record #3 at Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon (updated)

by Brett Larner

photo (c) 2009 Mika Tokairin

A year after his 60+ world record of 2:36:30 at the 2009 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon, Yoshihisa Hosaka did it again with a 2:38:12 world record for the 61 year old bracket at this year's Beppu-Oita on Feb. 7. Hosaka's time breaks the existing world record, set by Wil van der Lee of the Netherlands at the 1991 Amsterdam Marathon, by a slim 20 second margin. Hosaka now holds the world record for three consecutive age brackets.

59 - 2:34:23, Fukuoka 2008
60 - 2:36:30, Beppu-Oita 2009
61 - 2:38:12, Beppu-Oita 2010

In this year's race Hosaka started conservatively compared to his previous two world record runs, clocking consistent mid-37 minute 10 km splits through 30 km and hitting halfway in 1:18:26. By comparison, at this past December's 2009 Fukuoka International Marathon, a few weeks before his 61st birthday, Hosaka went through halfway in 1:15:48. In Beppu-Oita he slowed significantly between 30 and 35 km but managed to rally and claim the record with a 1:19:46 second half. "I ran as hard as I could to get this world record and I'm very happy with it," Hosaka told JRN. He will next run the Tokyo Marathon on Feb. 28.


Yoshihisa Hosaka sets the 60+ world record of 2:36:30 at the 2009 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon. Photo courtesy of Yoshihisa Hosaka.

Update: A summary of Hosaka's last few marathons:

2:38:12 - Beppu-Oita 2/7/10 (age 61)
2:40:39 - Fukuoka, 12/6/09 (age 60)
2:41:15 - Hokkaido, 8/30/09 (age 60)
2:39:33 - L.A., 5/25/09 (age 60)
2:40:16 - Nagano, 4/19/09 (age 60)
2:36:30 - Beppu-Oita, 2/1/09 (age 60)
2:34:23 - Fukuoka, 12/7/08 (age 59)

There are probably a few more in there that I don't know about.

(c) 2010 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
Labels:

Comments

Jon in Tokyo said…
Amazing.
Something for all Nambanners to aim at in the future.
February 8, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Samurai Running said…
Yes Jon,

All runners now have something to think about. And thanks Brett for your continued promotion of Mr. Hosaka. He really is an inspiration. And a nice guy to boot, I've heard from Bob, et al.
February 8, 2010 at 9:15 AM
Matt said…
Great performance. It is amazing the stress load the human body can handle at older ages. I look forward to seeing Yoshihisa run more records in the future.
February 9, 2010 at 2:20 AM
Michael Quispe said…
I passed him in Boston this year and immediately wondered if it was him. Checked the results and sure enough, there he was. Amazing guy!
April 27, 2010 at 1:25 AM
Post a Comment

Most-Read This Week

Wanjiru Breaks Own MR, Fuwa and Ishida Return - Kanto Regionals Day 1 Highlights

Japan's best college meet kicked off Thursday at Tokyo's National Stadium at the 103rd Kanto Region University Track and Field Championships . Looking like she was doing a controlled tempo run, 2nd-yr Sarah Wanjiru (Daito Bunka Univ.) lapped the entire field to win the women's 10000 m in a meet record 32:02.87, almost 15 seconds under the record she last year in her debut. 3rd-yr Aoi Takahashi (Josai Univ.) was 2nd in 33:29.22 and 2nd-yr Nana Nagashima (Josai Kokusai Univ.) 3rd in a PB 33:30.28, but the other main news alongside Wanjiru's new record was the return of collegiate 10000 m record holder Seira Fuwa (Takushoku Univ.) in her first 10000 m in 19 months. Fuwa hung at the back of the chase pack for the first half, made a move to lead it in the second half, and ultimately faded to 9th in 33:40.20. Every comeback has to start somewhere. The D1 men's 10000 m had a tight group up front with the top 6 all finishing within 6 seconds and under 28:10. 3rd-yr Jam
1 comment
Read more

Two-Time Olympic Marathon Medalist Erick Wainaina Referred to Prosectors on Suspicion of Assault

  According to investigators, two-time Olympic marathon medalist Erick Wainaina has had his case referred to prosecutors after allegedly injuring a railway employee by striking him in the face at a station in Setagaya, Tokyo. Wainaina, 50, was the bronze medalist in the marathon at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and won silver in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Wainaina is suspected of assaulting a woman in her late teens and a male Tokyu Denentoshi Line employee by hitting them in the face during an altercation at Komazawa University Station in March this year, resulting in minor injuries to the man's face. According to investigators, the incident began on the train between Wainaina and the woman, and after getting off at Komazawa University Station he hit her in the face when she asked him to go to the station office with her to report it. When the male railway employee responded to the situation Wainaina reportedly hit him too. In response to questioning Wainaina is said to have answered,
Post a Comment
Read more

Police Arrest 20-Year-Old Man Charged With Assaulting Female Runner at Popular Tokyo Running Spot

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a female runner along the banks of the Tama River in Ota Ward, Tokyo. "I've been stuck at home because of the coronavirus, so I wanted to go for a walk and move my body a bit," the man told police. Local resident Hirai Muroyama , 20, of no known occupation, was arrested on charges of sexual assault. He is accused of acts including grabbing the breasts of a woman in her 20s at around 10 p.m. on May 31 along the banks of the Tama River. According to police, the woman was taking a break in her run when Muroyama approached her silently from behind and grabbed her breasts before running away. Under police interrogation Muroyama told investigators, "I've been stuck at home because of the coronavirus, so I wanted to go out for a walk and move my body. I'd had a few drinks and was feeling pretty hype. She was totally my type." source article: https://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newsey
Post a Comment
Read more