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Sera H.S. Unveils Monument Commemorating Seventh National Title

http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Tn201207150105.html

translated by Brett Larner

At a ceremony at Sera H.S.' campus in Seramachi Hongo, Hiroshima on July 14, a monument was unveiled commemorating the Sera boys' seventh national title at last December's National High School Ekiden Championships.  Made of solid granite, the monument is 90 cm tall, 120 cm long and 30 cm deep, the latest addition to the six monuments already standing in the campus' front gardens.  Under the title "Victory Memorial" the front of the monument records the winning time, date of the race and other information, while the names of the coach and all ten team members are inscribed on the back.

Organized by ekiden team and school administration officials, the ceremony hosted around 100 alumni.  Six of the winning team members including captain Naruhei Daikuya (17) were present to represent the team, posing for commemorative pictures lined up on either side of the monument, a donation from the school's alumni association.  Association director Toshifumi Kojima (61) commented, "We hope that this reminder of the school's glorious history will excite future students and motivate them to actively take part in adding to that history."

Translator's note: Sera H.S. is the alma mater of future Kenyan greats Bitan Karoki and Charles Ndirangu among others.  Ndirangu ran on last year's winning team, just missing Samuel Wanjiru's stage record.

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