JRN's Ten Most-Read Stories of 2024

Hirabayashi Knocks 'em Out in Osaka - Feb. 25

Fresh off the equivalent of a 1:00:40 half marathon on Day One of the Hakone Ekiden, 21-year-old Kiyoto Hirabayashi of Koku Gakuin University ran a debut and collegiate record 2:06:18 to win the Osaka Marathon. Post-race his coach Yasuhiro Maeda compared Hirabayashi to former NR holder Atsushi Fujita, Maeda's teammate in their days at Komazawa University. Ethiopian Waganesh Nekasha won the women's race in 2:24:20.

ASICS Apologizes for Typo on Tokyo Marathon T-Shirts - Feb. 28

Tokyo Marathon sponsor ASICS issued an apology after selling an official t-shirt with a misspelled English word on it even though the misspelling actually increased the shirt's appeal.

Sutume Asefa Kebede and Benson Kipruto Run Fastest-Ever Marathons in Japan to Win in Tokyo - Mar. 3

Ethiopian Sutume Asefe Kebede and Kenyan Benson Kipruto ran the fastest times ever produced on Japanese soil, Sutume dropping Rosemary Wanjiru at 40 km to win in 2:15:55 and Kipruto surviving a world record pace start ordered up by Eliud Kipchoge and winning in 2:02:16. Three Japanese men broke 2:07 led by Yusuke Nishiyama in 2:06:31 despite falling mid-race, while Mongolian Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh ran a national record 2:26:32 to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Preview 1. Preview 2.

Japan's Olympic Marathon Team Meets the Press - Mar. 26

Yuka Suzuki, Mao Ichiyama, Honami Maeda, Naoki Koyama, Akira Akasaki and women's alternate Ai Hosoda took part in a JAAF press conference to talk about their hopes for the Paris Olympics. Akasaki, who ultimately ran a PB 2:07:32 to take 6th in Paris, confidently said, "I'm strong on hills." 3rd men's team member Suguru Osako declined to participate in the press conference.

Aoyama Gakuin Breaks Own CR by 2:17 to Dominate 100th Hakone Ekiden - Jan. 2 & 3

Inexplicably strong on the Second and Third Stages, Aoyama Gakuin University put an end to Komazawa University's hopes of becoming the first team ever to win all three major university ekidens two years in a row, taking the lead on the Third Stage when Aoi Ota ran the equivalent of a 58:57 half marathon and never under threat again. AGU ultimately broke the Day One CR and overall CR, finishing the complete course over 6.5 minutes ahead of Komazawa. Performances were at an incredible level across the board, with 9 of Hakone's 10 stages seeing times inside their all-time top 10 and the uphill Fifth Stage a new CR by Josai University's Yuito Yamamoto.

16-Year-Old Rin Kubo Becomes First Japanese Woman to Break 2:00 for 800 m - July 15

After winning the 800 m at June's National Track and Field Championships, Higashi Osaka Keiai H.S. athlete Rin Kubo made history as the first Japanese woman to break 2 minutes, running a national record 1:59.93 at a JAAF-sanctioned time trial meet in Nara. Although the JAAF officially recognized Kubo's time as a new NR, World Athletics did not accept Kubo's mark as the Nara meet had not paid the fee to register itself to WA's event calendar, highlighting a growing problem in the sport in 2024.

Toyota Over Honda at New Year Ekiden - Jan. 1

In its first edition with a new course setup designed to get more TV time for Japan's marathoners and less for non-Japanese runners, Toyota took the lead on the Second Stage thanks to the equivalent of a 59:25 half marathon by Tomoki Ota and held it the rest of the way at the New Year Ekiden corporate men's national championship. 2022-2023 winner Honda was 2nd just ahead of 2017-2020 champ Asahi Kasei.

Keita Sato on Training With OAC - Mar. 31

After running the equivalent of a 59:22 half marathon at the Hakone Ekiden, Komazawa University's Keita Sato went to Boulder, CO for almost two months to train with the OAC pro team. While there he ran an indoor 5000 m national record of 13:09.45 in Boston and indoor 3000 m and 2-mile NR at the Millrose Games in New York. Near the end of his time in Boulder Sato talked to journalist Tatsuo Terada about training in the U.S. and his future goals.

Yuya Yoshida 2:05:16 CR to Win Fukuoka International Marathon - Dec. 1

Ending the year with a bang, 2020 Fukuoka International Marathon winner Yuya Yoshida went 2 seconds under the old pre-super shoe era course record set by Tsegaye Kebede to win Fukuoka again in 2:05:16. En route he split 1:02:58/1:02:18, raising hopes that he can better the 2:04:56 marathon national record in a faster race. Further back in the field, Hong Kong's Vincent Lam set a new NR of 2:15:31. Preview.

Juntendo University Legendary Coach Sawaki Steps Down Amid Abuse Allegations After 4 Athletes Sent to Hospital - "This Is the Way We've Always Done It" - Sept. 17

A former JAAF director and two-time Olympian who coached Juntendo University to nine Hakone Ekiden wins, Keisuke Sawaki stepped down from his position at the university after four athletes were sent to the hospital as a result of a workout he forced them to do in hot conditions. In the wake of the incident, as others began to come forward with allegations of Sawaki's history of verbal, mental and physical abuse against athletes and other faculty, he resigned his position with the team, saying, "This is the way we've always done it."

© 2024 Brett Larner, all rights reserved